West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU)
Public four-year university in West Chester, PA that costs an average of $24,778 a year after financial aid, admits 78% of applicants and graduates 68% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$24,778
Acceptance rate
78%
Graduation rate
68%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$66,629
PublicLarge suburb14,164 undergraduates
Cost of WCU
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $30,531 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $11,464 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $23,876 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $15,268 |
| Books and supplies | $1,200 |
| Average net price after aid | $24,778 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $17,822 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $17,558 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $19,162 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $24,084 |
| $110,001+ | $29,420 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with WCU's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 78% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,187 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 560–650 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 540–620 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 24–28 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 68% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 83% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $55,455 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $66,629 |
| Rank in Pennsylvania (earnings) | 62nd of 113 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $21,500 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $244 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 30% |
| Students with federal loans | 57% |
Majors and programs at WCU
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (50)
Certificate programs (12)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | — | $71,023 | $23,469 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | — | $55,094 | $22,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | $46,383 | $27,000 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | — | — | — |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | — | — | — |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences | — | — | — |
| Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | — | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 7 | — | — |
| Real Estate | 5 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | — | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | — | — |
| Sustainability Studies | 7 | — | — |
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs (6)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision | — | — | — |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | — | — | — |
| Music | — | — | — |
| Social Work | — | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | — | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (37)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 428 | $102,606 | $21,250 |
| Statistics | 47 | $90,891 | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 116 | $71,522 | $23,250 |
| Psychology | 84 | $66,610 | $36,339 |
| Public Health | 56 | $65,118 | $41,000 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 68 | $61,745 | — |
| Public Administration | 53 | $60,753 | $44,750 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 58 | $59,091 | — |
| Social Work | 233 | $59,063 | $45,657 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 68 | $57,176 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 138 | $56,390 | $29,378 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 59 | $53,782 | $38,164 |
| Music | 31 | $49,119 | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 87 | — | $51,713 |
| Applied Mathematics | 2 | — | — |
| Biology | 21 | — | — |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | 6 | — | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 73 | — | $41,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 36 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 34 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 34 | — | — |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | 52 | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 7 | — | — |
| Geography and Environmental Studies | 12 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 10 | — | — |
| History | 14 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 22 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 9 | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 34 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 12 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 17 | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 26 | — | — |
| Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education | 24 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 26 | — | — |
| Sustainability Studies | — | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 14 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (4)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Administration | 42 | $109,792 | $51,250 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | — | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 42 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | — | — |
Professional degree programs (2)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 18 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 16 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (38)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 48 | $123,422 | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 16 | $61,657 | — |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | 7 | $55,605 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 3 | — | — |
| Business/Commerce | — | — | — |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | — | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 22 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 49 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | — | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 12 | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | — | — | — |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | 1 | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 6 | — | — |
| Gerontology | 21 | — | — |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | — | — | — |
| Holocaust and Related Studies | 4 | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 35 | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Movement and Mind-Body Therapies and Education | 5 | — | — |
| Music | — | — | — |
| Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | 2 | — | — |
| Philosophy | — | — | — |
| Public Administration | 3 | — | — |
| Public Policy Analysis | 5 | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 16 | — | — |
| Publishing | 1 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 1 | — | — |
| Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education | 3 | — | — |
| Social Work | 12 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 18 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 13 | — | — |
| Statistics | — | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 1 | — | — |
| Sustainability Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 24 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 3 | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 12 | — | — |
Similar colleges in Pennsylvania
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus | Pittsburgh | $29,362 | 58% | $73,113 |
| Temple University | Philadelphia | $23,058 | 80% | $71,027 |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | Bloomsburg | $17,468 | 93% | $56,416 |
| Pennsylvania Western University | California | $17,839 | 94% | $51,161 |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | Slippery Rock | $19,972 | 71% | $57,995 |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Indiana | $17,391 | 91% | $57,182 |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Kutztown | $22,146 | 91% | $57,647 |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Millersville | $18,817 | 86% | $58,443 |
About WCU
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | West Chester, PA |
| Setting | Large suburb |
| Undergraduates | 14,164 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 20 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Website | wcupa.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is WCU's acceptance rate?
West Chester University of Pennsylvania admits 78% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,187 on the SAT.
How much does WCU cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $30,531 a year (tuition and fees: $11,464 in-state, $23,876 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $24,778 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $17,822.
How much do WCU graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $66,629 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 62nd of 113 similar colleges in Pennsylvania. The best-paid bachelor's program is registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing ($91,462 a year after graduation).
What is WCU's graduation rate?
68% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 83% of first-year students return for a second year.