Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) is a public university formed in 2022 by merging California University of Pennsylvania, Clarion University and Edinboro University. It had 10,834 students, 7,586 of them undergraduates, in fall 2024. Its pros are near-open admission, a modest out-of-state premium, three campuses and a large online offering; its cons are a high net price for a state school, heavy student borrowing and a 52% six-year graduation rate.
Below is each pro and con in detail, followed by cost, outcome and accreditation figures from the federal College Navigator database, so you can decide whether PennWest is a good school for you.
Pennsylvania Western University at a Glance
- Type: 4-year public university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE).
- Campuses: California, Clarion and Edinboro, Pennsylvania. The federal record lists the main address in California, Pennsylvania (“Town: Distant”).
- Formed: 2022, from three universities founded in 1852 (California), 1867 (Clarion) and 1857 (Edinboro).
- Enrollment (fall 2024): 10,834 total, 7,586 undergraduate, 3,248 graduate.
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 18 to 1.
- Admission: 94% of applicants were admitted for fall 2024.
Pros: What PennWest Does Well
- Easy to get into. PennWest admitted 94% of applicants for fall 2024, and enrolled freshmen had a median ACT composite of 21.
- A small out-of-state premium. Out-of-state tuition and fees were $16,054 in 2024-2025 against $11,436 in state, so non-residents pay a relatively small premium. That makes PennWest worth pricing for students from Ohio, New York, West Virginia or Maryland.
- Online options at scale. 18% of undergraduates study entirely online and another 48% take some online courses. Among graduate students, 77% study entirely at a distance.
- Nearly every freshman gets aid. In 2023-2024, 98% of full-time beginning students received financial aid and 93% received grants or scholarships, averaging $8,649.
- Three campuses to choose from. Students can pick the setting that suits them among the California, Clarion and Edinboro campuses, each with its own long history.
Cons: What to Weigh Before You Enroll at PennWest
- A high net price for a public university. The average net price after grants was $18,094 in 2023-2024, and even families earning up to $30,000 paid an average of $13,944.
- Most freshmen borrow. 69% of full-time beginning students took out student loans in 2023-2024, averaging $8,151.
- Middling completion. Of full-time freshmen who began in fall 2018, 38% finished a bachelor’s degree in four years and 52% in six; 20% transferred out.
- Retention is modest. 72% of full-time freshmen who started in fall 2023 returned in fall 2024.
- A young institution built from a consolidation. The merger was driven by declining state funding and demographic decline across the state system. Students should check which programs are taught in person on the campus they want, rather than online or at another campus.
What PennWest Costs: Tuition, Housing and Net Price
| Item (2024-2025 unless noted) | Amount |
|---|---|
| In-state tuition and fees | $11,436 |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $16,054 |
| On-campus food and housing | $12,690 |
| Total in-state cost, living on campus | $28,956 |
| Total out-of-state cost, living on campus | $33,574 |
| Average net price (2023-2024) | $18,094 |
By income, the 2023-2024 average net price ranged from $13,944 for families earning up to $30,000 to $23,272 for families earning more than $110,000.
Is PennWest a Good School? What the Numbers Say
PennWest is a reasonable choice for Pennsylvania students and nearby out-of-state students who want an accessible public university, particularly if they want online or hybrid study or a specific campus close to home.
It is not a bargain, though. A net price of $18,094, a 69% borrowing rate and an overall graduation rate of 52% for the fall 2018 cohort mean that students should compare their PennWest aid offer against other PASSHE universities and community-college transfer routes before committing.
Who Accredits Pennsylvania Western University?
PennWest is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. In March 2022 Middle States approved the merger under California University of Pennsylvania’s accreditation, which dates from 1951 in College Navigator; the next review is listed for 2033. Individual programs such as physical therapy hold their own programmatic accreditation.
Who PennWest Suits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere
A good fit for: students who need accessible admission, online or hybrid learners, graduate students studying at a distance, and out-of-state students from neighbouring states.
Worth comparing alternatives if: you need a low net price, want to avoid borrowing, or are looking for a school with a higher on-time graduation rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What schools make up PennWest? California University of Pennsylvania, Clarion University of Pennsylvania and Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, merged in 2022.
- Is PennWest hard to get into? No. It admitted 94% of applicants for fall 2024.
- Is PennWest accredited? Yes, by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
- Does PennWest offer online degrees? Yes. 18% of undergraduates and 77% of graduate students studied entirely online in fall 2024.