West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, PA 19383
About West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public research university in West Chester, Pennsylvania, with about 14,164 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 78.40% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $61,258 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania charges about 2.0× the national public median tuition ($10,775).
- Versus the Pennsylvania median, sticker tuition is about 0.6×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 70.51%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $61,258.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at West Chester University of Pennsylvania is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 556% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
West Chester University of Pennsylvania awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 104 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | $10,775 | $23,331 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Pennsylvania (state median) | $19,450 | $17,754 | 181 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is West Chester University of Pennsylvania really?
Key findings
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania charges about 2.0× the national public median tuition ($10,775).
- Versus the Pennsylvania median, sticker tuition is about 0.6×.
West Chester University of Pennsylvania tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $10,775
Finding West Chester University of Pennsylvania charges about 2.0× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $10,775. That is about 2.0× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Pennsylvania median ($19,450), sticker tuition is about 0.6×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 9% below.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at West Chester University of Pennsylvania versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at West Chester University of Pennsylvania versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at West Chester University of Pennsylvania is $23,331.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $23,331 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $5,578 above the Pennsylvania median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $4,631 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At West Chester University of Pennsylvania, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
West Chester University of Pennsylvania: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for West Chester University of Pennsylvania—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$10,775
Out-of-state tuition
$22,599
Avg. net price
$23,331
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $17,018 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $17,414 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $20,417 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $24,715 |
| $110,001+ | $27,160 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $43,100. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What West Chester University of Pennsylvania is known for
Top program completions
- Business Administration and Management, General470
- Psychology, General315
- Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General240
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching237
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse219
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 24% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1187
- Midpoint ACT: 26
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is West Chester University of Pennsylvania a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Campus
Location
West Chester, PA
City / state
- ZIP
- 19383
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 25% above the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Mid East
- Carnegie
- Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Size
Enrollment
14,164
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 15,682
- Graduate
- 2,722
- Full-time share
- 92%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$23,500
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 25.40%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at West Chester University of Pennsylvania was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for West Chester University of Pennsylvania in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $8,850 | $18,974 | $22,254 |
| 2014 | $9,144 | $19,594 | $21,703 |
| 2015 | $9,462 | $20,280 | $22,250 |
| 2016 | $9,720 | $20,812 | $21,690 |
| 2017 | $10,111 | $21,591 | $22,193 |
| 2018 | $10,412 | $22,236 | $22,101 |
| 2019 | $10,421 | $22,245 | $22,495 |
| 2020 | $10,471 | $22,295 | $21,484 |
| 2021 | $10,471 | $22,295 | $13,183 |
| 2022 | $10,575 | $22,399 | $24,128 |
| 2023 | $10,687 | $22,511 | $22,673 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1187 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 26 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
West Chester University of Pennsylvania reported total enrollment of about 14,164 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 42% male and 58% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (73.2%), Black or African American (10.4%), and Hispanic or Latino (8.2%). About 25.40% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 28.1% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
91.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at West Chester University of Pennsylvania in 2024 is 14,164 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 15,682 students. Graduate enrollment is about 2,722 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
83.1%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
52.74% 100% Completion Time
70.51% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 52.74% of students graduating from West Chester University of Pennsylvania completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 60% male / 40% female
- Psychology, General: 20% male / 80% female
- Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General: 40% male / 60% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
West Chester University of Pennsylvania graduates earn a median of $61,258 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $61,258. Median federal loan debt: $23,500. Average net price used in cost models: $23,331.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway West Chester University of Pennsylvania graduates report median earnings of $61,258 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (104 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for West Chester University of Pennsylvania graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for West Chester University of Pennsylvania—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$61.1M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Pennsylvania median 1.3× the median ($47.9M)
- Mid East median 1.4× the median ($42.6M)
- U.S. median 2.3× the median ($26.4M)
- Pennsylvania median 0.16× the median ($24,897)
- Mid East median 0.24× the median ($16,427)
- U.S. median 0.32× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 71.8%
- Pennsylvania median 8.7 pp above median (63.1%)
- Mid East median 14.9 pp above median (56.9%)
- U.S. median 13.8 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $11,216
- Pennsylvania median 1.4× the median ($8,003)
- Mid East median 1.4× the median ($8,119)
- U.S. median 1.5× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,968
- Pennsylvania median near the median ($8,615)
- Mid East median near the median ($9,164)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
West Chester University of Pennsylvania at a glance
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public institution in West Chester, PA, classified as Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Business Administration and Management, GeneralPsychology, GeneralSales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian73.2%Black or African American10.4%Hispanic or Latino8.2%
Schools near West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Other campuses in West Chester, PA when available, plus nearby institutions in Pennsylvania.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade B) within Pennsylvania, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is West Chester University of Pennsylvania located?
West Chester University of Pennsylvania is located in West Chester, PA.
What is West Chester University of Pennsylvania's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at West Chester University of Pennsylvania is 78.4% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 16,467 applicants and 13,042 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is West Chester University of Pennsylvania's tuition?
West Chester University of Pennsylvania tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $10,775 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $23,331 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does West Chester University of Pennsylvania cost?
Reported tuition is $10,775 and average net price is $23,331 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $14,828 annually.
What explains West Chester University of Pennsylvania's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($23,331), completion (70.5% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($61,258). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at West Chester University of Pennsylvania?
West Chester University of Pennsylvania reports undergraduate enrollment of about 15,682 students, White (73.2%), Black or African American (10.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend West Chester University of Pennsylvania?
About 28.1% of students at West Chester University of Pennsylvania are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for West Chester University of Pennsylvania?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, West Chester University of Pennsylvania reports midpoint SAT about 1187 and midpoint ACT about 26.
What do graduates of West Chester University of Pennsylvania earn?
Median earnings are $51,013 six years after entry and $61,258 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at West Chester University of Pennsylvania?
The 150%-time completion rate is 70.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do West Chester University of Pennsylvania students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $23,500.
Is West Chester University of Pennsylvania public or private?
West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public institution located in West Chester, PA.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Pennsylvania college profile
- Pennsylvania college costs
- Pennsylvania colleges by ROI
- University of Pennsylvania vs Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus vs West Chester University of Pennsylvania
- Mid East regional profile
- Rural college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Pennsylvania
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.