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Is Pennsylvania Western University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Pennsylvania Western, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Pennsylvania Western sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $47,295 helps, but median debt of $23,725 plus yearly net price of $18,256 creates a tighter path. For context, Pennsylvania Western's net price runs about 49% above the typical 4-year, public school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$19,579
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrThis weighs on your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $6,425 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $26,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$18,256
Median earnings 10 years out
$47,295
Median debt at graduation
$23,725
Graduation rate
51%
At Pennsylvania Western, a typical graduate carries about $23,725 in student debt and earns roughly $47,295 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $270 per month, or 7% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Pennsylvania Western is a public four year school in California, PA. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg, PA
Worth-It Score: 57/100
Median net price: $18,134
Public 4-year
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Slippery Rock, PA
Worth-It Score: 63/100
Median net price: $19,608
Public 4-year
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana, PA
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $16,804
Public 4-year
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Millersville, PA
Worth-It Score: 58/100
Median net price: $20,787
Public 4-year
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown, PA
Worth-It Score: 55/100
Median net price: $21,331
Common questions about Pennsylvania Western
The median net price at Pennsylvania Western is $18,256 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in Pennsylvania? See the most affordable public universities in Pennsylvania →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →