West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCUPA) vs Drexel University
West Chester University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning in Pennsylvania, offer distinct educational experiences. West Chester, a public university with a 79% acceptance rate, boasts a diverse student body and excels in liberal arts and education programs. Drexel, a private research university with a 72% acceptance rate, emphasizes experiential learning through its renowned co-op program and is known for its engineering, business, and health sciences programs. While both universities offer a vibrant campus life, West Chester's 17,000-student population creates a close-knit community, while Drexel's 25,000-student body fosters a more urban and diverse atmosphere. With graduation rates of 62% and 84% respectively, these universities provide varying levels of academic rigor and support. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() Drexel University |
![]() West Chester University of Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | West Chester, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Quarter | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 90.0% | 85.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 82.6% | 89.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$65
|
Undergraduate:
$45
Graduate:
$50
|
SAT range | 1210 - 1410 | 1070 - 1250 |
ACT range | 26 - 32 | 23 - 29 |
Students submitting SAT score | 37.0% | 27.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 9.0% | 1.0% |
Total number of applicants | 34,519 | 14,020 |
Total number of admissions given out | 28,522 | 12,528 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 2,854 | 2,628 |
Yield rate | 10.0% | 21.0% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price | $77,478 |
In state:
$28,419
Out of state:
$40,243
|
Average net price | $26,076 | $14,133 |
Tuition | $54,766 |
In state:
$7,716
Out of state:
$19,290
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$10,320
Meal plan:
$6,168
|
Room/dormitory:
$5,794
Meal plan:
$3,700
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $33,241 |
100.0%
Average amount $4,607 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
61.0%
Average amount $5,326 |
51.0%
Average amount $5,238 |
Students taking out private loans |
11.0%
Average amount $25,237 |
11.0%
Average amount $11,835 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
14,413
Men 51.2% Women 48.8% |
14,471
Men 40.0% Women 60.0% |
Graduate students |
8,803
Men 36.1% Women 63.9% |
3,143
Men 31.7% Women 68.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 50.5% | 11.4% |
International students | 9.2% | 0.4% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 3,667 | 5,128 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Pennsylvania New Jersey New York Maryland California | Pennsylvania New Jersey Delaware Maryland New York |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 20:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 78.2% | 72.8% |
Dropout rate | 21.1% | 7.6% |
Transferred out | N/A | 18.4% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
|
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's Degrees)
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
Music (Master's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.




















































































































































































































