Colleges › Pennsylvania › Pennsylvania Western University
Pennsylvania Western University
Admission at Pennsylvania Western University is close to open (94.3%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $47,295 median earnings below before the application.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
Pennsylvania Western University anchors the college town of California, PA, where the public campus and town largely share a footprint.
Its highest-earning path is Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General, where graduates median $83,194 four years out. 38.3% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 940 and 1170 — below the PA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Pennsylvania Western University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Pennsylvania Western University received 6,189 applications and admitted 5,796 (93.7%), with 1,617 enrolling.
You can apply to Pennsylvania Western University without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 940 and 1170; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 480 | 540 | 590 |
| SAT Math | 460 | 530 | 580 |
| ACT Composite | 20 | 22 | 26 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Pennsylvania Western University compares
| Pennsylvania Western University | Pennsylvania median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 94.3% | 82% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $11,436 | $33,730 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $47,295 | $62,101 | $53,781 |
At $47,295, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($62,101). Look at Pennsylvania Western University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $11,436 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $16,054. For non-residents, Pennsylvania Western University's $16,054 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
At 7,451 undergrads, Pennsylvania Western University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
51.9% graduate within six years. Roughly 48% don't — ask a Pennsylvania Western University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Pennsylvania Western University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $83,194 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $82,099 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | $77,401 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $73,164 |
| Systems Science and Theory | $70,820 |
| Information Science/Studies | $70,608 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $68,289 |
| Chemistry | $65,224 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $64,092 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $63,781 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $60,617 |
| Marketing | $59,703 |
| Political Science and Government | $57,724 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $57,549 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $57,354 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $56,316 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $55,515 |
| Biology, General | $53,619 |
| Mathematics | $51,498 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $50,722 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $49,817 |
| Geography and Cartography | $49,517 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $48,497 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $48,116 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $47,468 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $47,295 |
| Psychology, General | $45,903 |
| Social Work | $45,436 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $45,300 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $45,272 |
| Journalism | $45,264 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $44,180 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $42,837 |
| Sociology | $42,662 |
| Social Sciences, General | $42,582 |
| Music | $41,546 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $40,854 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $37,813 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $37,684 |
| History | $37,579 |
Median earnings for these 40 Pennsylvania Western University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $47,295 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 33 additional Pennsylvania Western University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Pennsylvania Western University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 940–1170 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 94.3% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Pennsylvania Western University's acceptance rate?
93.7% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 5,796 admitted from 6,189 applicants.
How much does Pennsylvania Western University cost?
In-state tuition is $11,436; out-of-state students pay $16,054. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Pennsylvania Western University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $47,295 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Pennsylvania
- Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania — 93.1% admitted
- Pennsylvania State University-World Campus — 91.1% admitted
- Harrisburg University of Science and Technology — 87.4% admitted
- UPMC Mercy School of Nursing — 87.9% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.