Pennsylvania Western University
California, PA · Public four-year · Town: Distant
8,336undergraduates
94%admitted
Test-optionalSAT/ACT
$19,579average net price per year
53%graduate in 6 years
70%return for year two
Admissions
- Applicants
- 6,189
- Admitted
- 5,796
- Admit rate
- 94%
- Admit rate, women
- 94%
- Admit rate, men
- 93%
- Admitted students who enroll
- 28%
- First-year students
- 1,617
- SAT/ACT
- Test-optional
- Students who sent SAT scores
- 16%
- SAT reading and writing (middle 50%)
- 480-590
- SAT math (middle 50%)
- 460-580
- Students who sent ACT scores
- 2%
- ACT composite (middle 50%)
- 20-26
| High school GPA | Required |
|---|---|
| High school record | Required |
| College-prep coursework | Required |
| SAT or ACT scores | Considered, not required |
| Recommendations | Considered, not required |
| Essay or personal statement | Considered, not required |
| Class rank | Considered, not required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required |
| Work experience | Considered, not required |
| Legacy status | Considered, not required |
Majors
100 undergraduate programs that awarded a degree or certificate last year, grouped by field. Numbers are how many were awarded.
Health professions and related programs (12)
- Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other Associate (28 awarded)
- Art Therapy/Therapist Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist Bachelor's (6 awarded)
- Communication Sciences and Disorders, General Bachelor's (71 awarded)
- Health and Wellness, General Certificate (under 1 year) (4 awarded)
- Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General Bachelor's (33 awarded)
- Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist Bachelor's (19 awarded)
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions, Other Bachelor's (9 awarded)
- Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Certificate (under 1 year) (5 awarded)
- Physical Therapy Assistant Associate (12 awarded)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse Associate (54 awarded), Bachelor's (187 awarded)
- Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Certificate (under 1 year) (4 awarded)
Business, management, marketing, and related support services (11)
- Accounting Bachelor's (32 awarded)
- Business Administration and Management, General Associate (11 awarded), Bachelor's (106 awarded)
- Business/Commerce, General Bachelor's (8 awarded)
- Business/Managerial Economics Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies Certificate (under 1 year) (9 awarded)
- Finance, General Bachelor's (35 awarded)
- Labor and Industrial Relations Bachelor's (4 awarded)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General Bachelor's (28 awarded)
- Operations Management and Supervision Bachelor's (3 awarded)
- Real Estate Bachelor's (2 awarded)
- Science/Technology Management Associate (5 awarded)
Education (6)
- Early Childhood Education and Teaching Associate (7 awarded), Bachelor's (134 awarded)
- Elementary Education and Teaching Associate (3 awarded)
- Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching Bachelor's (14 awarded)
- Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Secondary Education and Teaching Bachelor's (58 awarded)
- Special Education and Teaching, General Bachelor's (16 awarded)
Social sciences (8)
- Anthropology, General Bachelor's (10 awarded)
- Criminology Associate (15 awarded), Bachelor's (89 awarded)
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics Bachelor's (3 awarded)
- Economics, General Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Geography Bachelor's (10 awarded)
- Political Science and Government, General Bachelor's (17 awarded)
- Social Sciences, General Bachelor's (8 awarded)
- Sociology, General Bachelor's (41 awarded)
Liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities (2)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other Associate (21 awarded), Bachelor's (32 awarded)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies Associate (1 awarded), Bachelor's (89 awarded)
Visual and performing arts (8)
- Art History, Criticism and Conservation Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Art/Art Studies, General Bachelor's (8 awarded)
- Commercial and Advertising Art Associate (1 awarded), Bachelor's (5 awarded)
- Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General Bachelor's (11 awarded)
- Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Other Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Fine/Studio Arts, General Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded), Bachelor's (91 awarded)
- Graphic Design Bachelor's (13 awarded)
- Music Technology Bachelor's (8 awarded)
Parks, recreation, leisure, fitness, and kinesiology (5)
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology Bachelor's (81 awarded)
- Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, General Bachelor's (2 awarded)
- Physical Fitness Technician Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Sport and Fitness Administration/Management Bachelor's (49 awarded)
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Other Bachelor's (5 awarded)
Psychology (3)
- Psychology, General Bachelor's (9 awarded)
- Research and Experimental Psychology, Other Bachelor's (94 awarded)
- Social Psychology Bachelor's (12 awarded)
Biological and biomedical sciences (2)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General Bachelor's (68 awarded)
- Environmental Biology Bachelor's (1 awarded)
Computer and information sciences and support services (3)
- Computer and Information Sciences, General Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Computer Science Bachelor's (45 awarded)
- Information Science/Studies Bachelor's (14 awarded)
Public administration and social service professions (2)
- Human Services, General Associate (1 awarded)
- Social Work Associate (1 awarded), Bachelor's (56 awarded)
Engineering/engineering-related technologies/technicians (6)
- Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician Associate (6 awarded), Bachelor's (4 awarded)
- Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians, Other Associate (17 awarded)
- Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians, Other Associate (3 awarded), Bachelor's (13 awarded)
- Industrial Technology/Technician Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (7 awarded)
- Quality Control Technology/Technician Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded)
Communication, journalism, and related programs (5)
- Communication, General Bachelor's (24 awarded)
- Journalism Bachelor's (7 awarded)
- Mass Communication/Media Studies Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric Bachelor's (17 awarded)
Natural resources and conservation (3)
- Environmental Science Bachelor's (18 awarded)
- Environmental Studies Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Wildlife, Fish and Wildlands Science and Management Bachelor's (28 awarded)
Agricultural/animal/plant/veterinary science and related fields (2)
- Plant Sciences, General Certificate (under 1 year) (13 awarded)
- Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant Associate (11 awarded), Bachelor's (13 awarded)
Foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics (2)
- Arabic Language and Literature Certificate (under 1 year) (3 awarded), Bachelor's (30 awarded)
- Spanish Language and Literature Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded)
Homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting and related protective services (2)
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration Associate (2 awarded), Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies Bachelor's (27 awarded)
English language and literature/letters (4)
- Creative Writing Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded)
- English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's (22 awarded)
- General Literature Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded)
- Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded)
Multi/interdisciplinary studies (4)
- Biological and Physical Sciences Bachelor's (13 awarded)
- Gerontology Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies Certificate (under 1 year) (3 awarded)
- Systems Science and Theory Bachelor's (10 awarded)
Mathematics and statistics (3)
- Mathematics, General Bachelor's (21 awarded)
- Statistics, General Bachelor's (2 awarded)
- Statistics, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (3 awarded)
Physical sciences (2)
- Chemistry, General Associate (3 awarded), Bachelor's (16 awarded)
- Physics, General Bachelor's (5 awarded)
Legal professions and studies (3)
- American/U.S. Law/Legal Studies/Jurisprudence Bachelor's (3 awarded)
- Legal Assistant/Paralegal Certificate (under 1 year) (2 awarded), Bachelor's (3 awarded)
- Legal Professions and Studies, Other Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded), Bachelor's (12 awarded)
Engineering (1)
- Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering Bachelor's (17 awarded)
History (1)
- History, General Bachelor's (14 awarded)
Graduate programs (47)
- Administration of Special Education Post-master's certificate
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services Master's, Post-master's certificate
- Earth Science Teacher Education Post-bachelor's certificate
- Education, General Master's
- Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism Post-bachelor's certificate
- Educational Administration and Supervision, Other Master's
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General Post-master's certificate, Doctorate (professional)
- Reading Teacher Education Post-bachelor's certificate, Master's
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Educational Methods Post-bachelor's certificate
- Secondary Education and Teaching Master's
- Special Education and Teaching, General Master's, Post-master's certificate
- Special Education and Teaching, Other Master's, Post-master's certificate
- Superintendency and Educational System Administration Post-master's certificate
- Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor Post-bachelor's certificate
- Public Policy Analysis, General Post-bachelor's certificate
- Social Work Master's
- Art Therapy/Therapist Post-master's certificate
- Athletic Training/Trainer Master's
- Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling Post-bachelor's certificate
- Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Master's
- Nursing Administration Master's, Doctorate (professional)
- Rehabilitation Science Post-bachelor's certificate
- Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist Master's
- Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Post-bachelor's certificate
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology Master's
- Sport and Fitness Administration/Management Master's, Doctorate (professional)
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, General Post-bachelor's certificate
- Library and Information Science Master's, Post-master's certificate
- Accounting Post-bachelor's certificate, Master's
- Business Administration and Management, General Master's
- Business/Corporate Communications, General Master's
- Business/Managerial Economics Post-bachelor's certificate
- Taxation Post-bachelor's certificate
- Educational Psychology Master's
- Performance and Sport Psychology Post-bachelor's certificate
- School Psychology Post-bachelor's certificate, Master's, Post-master's certificate
- Criminal Justice/Police Science Master's
- Arabic Language and Literature Master's
- Legal Professions and Studies, Other Post-bachelor's certificate, Master's
- Criminology Post-bachelor's certificate, Doctorate (professional)
- Social Sciences, Other Master's
- Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance Post-bachelor's certificate, Master's
- Art/Art Studies, General Master's
- Fine/Studio Arts, General Master's
- Computational and Applied Mathematics Master's
- Statistics, Other Post-bachelor's certificate
- Data Science, General Post-bachelor's certificate, Master's
Cost and aid
- Tuition and fees, in-state
- $11,388
- Tuition and fees, out-of-state
- $16,006
- Housing and food on campus
- $13,200
- Books and supplies
- $1,240
- Other on-campus costs
- $3,480
- Total cost on campus, in-state
- $29,308
- Total cost on campus, out-of-state
- $33,926
- Total cost living at home
- $16,108
Published prices for 2023-24.
| Family income | Per year |
|---|---|
| $0-30,000 | $14,651 |
| $30,001-48,000 | $15,059 |
| $48,001-75,000 | $18,863 |
| $75,001-110,000 | $23,147 |
| Over $110,000 | $24,265 |
Net price is the full cost minus grants and scholarships, for full-time first-year students who got aid in 2022-23 and paid in-state tuition.
- First-year students who got any aid
- 95%
- Got grants or scholarships
- 92%
- Average grant or scholarship
- $7,907
- Got a grant from the college
- 83%
- Average grant from the college
- $3,877
- Undergraduates with a Pell grant
- 37%
- First-year students who borrowed
- 65%
- Average amount borrowed
- $8,381
Graduation
- Bachelor's in 4 years
- 40%
- Bachelor's in 5 years
- 50%
- Bachelor's in 6 years
- 53%
- Bachelor's in 8 years
- 53%
- Any degree in 6 years (all students)
- 51%
- Transferred to another college
- 21%
- Came back for year two
- 70%
| Pell grant students | 43% |
|---|---|
| Subsidized loan, no Pell | 59% |
| Neither | 63% |
| Group | Students | Graduated |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 1,335 | 59% |
| Men | 951 | 44% |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 6 | 17% (small group) |
| Asian | 22 | 50% |
| Black | 275 | 29% |
| Hispanic | 85 | 52% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 2 | 50% (small group) |
| White | 1,779 | 58% |
| Two or more races | 86 | 28% |
| Race unknown | 19 | 63% (small group) |
| International | 12 | 58% (small group) |
| Started | Students | Earned a degree or certificate here | Enrolled at another college |
|---|---|---|---|
| Started here, full-time | 3,167 | 51% | 25% |
| Started here, part-time | 117 | 28% | 28% |
| Transferred in, full-time | 1,499 | 61% | 17% |
| Transferred in, part-time | 531 | 57% | 16% |
Graduation rates follow students who started full-time for the first time in fall 2017. Groups under 20 students are marked because a few students change the rate a lot.
Students
- Total students
- 11,305
- Undergraduates
- 8,336
- Full-time undergraduates
- 6,989
- Part-time undergraduates
- 1,347
- Graduate students
- 2,969
- Students per faculty member
- 17 to 1
- First-year students from in state
- 89%
- From out of state
- 9%
- From other countries
- 2%
- Undergraduates age 25 and up
- 15%
- Undergraduates taking all classes online
- 18%
- Undergraduates registered with disability services
- 9%
| Women | 61% |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0% |
| Asian | 1% |
| Black | 8% |
| Hispanic | 4% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 0% |
| White | 74% |
| Two or more races | 3% |
| Race unknown | 8% |
| International | 1% |
Campus life
- Setting
- Town: Distant
- Address
- 250 University Avenue, California, PA, 15419
- County
- Washington County
- Part of
- Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
- Type
- Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
- Highest degree
- Doctor's degree - professional practice
- Academic calendar
- Semester
- Athletics
- NCAA
- Teams include
- football, basketball, baseball, cross country and track
- Offers
- Army ROTC, Study abroad, Teacher certification, Online programs, Credit for AP exams, On-campus child care
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2022-23 to 2024-25 surveys), and the College Scorecard.