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    Colleges like Pennsylvania Western University: 10 similar schools

    The 10 colleges most similar to Pennsylvania Western University, ranked by shared features and how close their published figures are.

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

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    The colleges most similar to Pennsylvania Western University are Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus (graduation rate 52%, close to 51%); Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania (enrollment 7,063 students, close to 7,451); and Millersville University of Pennsylvania (average net price $18,817, close to $17,839). Pennsylvania Western University admits 94% of applicants and has an average net price of $17,839 a year; 5 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 3 admit a larger share of applicants, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.

    These matches are closest to Pennsylvania Western University on acceptance rate and graduation rate. The score is profile closeness out of 100; the order also counts shared features and location. How matches are scored

    Pennsylvania Western University vs. its top 10 alternatives

    Acceptance rate, average net price per year after grants, six-year graduation rate, median earnings ten years after entry and profile match score for Pennsylvania Western University and its closest alternatives.
    CollegeStateAcceptance rateNet priceGraduation rateMedian earningsMatch score
    Pennsylvania Western UniversityPA94.3%$17,83951.4%$51,161This college
    Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main CampusPA90.8%$17,39151.8%$57,18292/100
    Bloomsburg University of PennsylvaniaPA90%$16,73859%Not reported91/100
    Millersville University of PennsylvaniaPA86.2%$18,81754.8%$58,44391/100
    Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaPA90.8%$22,14655.4%$57,64789/100
    California University of PennsylvaniaPA97%$20,31748%Not reported88/100
    East Stroudsburg University of PennsylvaniaPA92.1%$21,08445.7%$59,89387/100
    Shippensburg University of PennsylvaniaPA86.5%$21,12948.8%$58,07785/100
    Edinboro University of PennsylvaniaPA92%$15,77147%Not reported83/100
    Clarion University of PennsylvaniaPA99%$13,84055%Not reported82/100
    Lock Haven UniversityPA95%$15,94754%Not reported80/100

    Net price is the average yearly cost after grants; graduation rate is within six years; earnings are ten years after entry. Match score is profile closeness out of 100. “Not reported” means the college sent no figure to the U.S. Department of Education.

    Top 10 alternatives to Pennsylvania Western University

    Ranked by similarity. Each card lists what the college shares with Pennsylvania Western University and where it differs.

    How the matches differ from Pennsylvania Western University

    • Graduation rates across the matches run from 46% (East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania) to 59% (Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania), against 51% at Pennsylvania Western University; 6 of 10 graduate a larger share of students.
    • Median earnings ten years after entry across the matches run from $57,182 (Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus) to $59,893 (East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania), against $51,161 at Pennsylvania Western University; 5 of 5 report higher earnings.
    • Enrollment sizes across the matches run from 2,466 students (Lock Haven University) to 7,063 students (Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania), against 7,451 students at Pennsylvania Western University; 0 of 10 are larger.
    • All 10 matches are in Pennsylvania, like Pennsylvania Western University.

    Questions about Pennsylvania Western University alternatives

    What colleges are similar to Pennsylvania Western University?

    The closest matches to Pennsylvania Western University are Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, and California University of Pennsylvania. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.

    Is Pennsylvania Western University hard to get into?

    Pennsylvania Western University admitted 94% of applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is not very selective: it admits most applicants. 3 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.

    Which Pennsylvania Western University alternatives cost less?

    5 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Pennsylvania Western University ($17,839 a year), including Clarion University of Pennsylvania ($13,840), Edinboro University of Pennsylvania ($15,771), and Lock Haven University ($15,947). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.

    Data sources

    Admissions
    U.S. College Scorecard · latest data
    Cost
    U.S. College Scorecard · latest data
    Outcomes
    U.S. College Scorecard · latest data
    Enrollment
    U.S. College Scorecard · latest data

    Matches and their reasons come from CollegesRef matching on these figures. How we match colleges

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    Acceptance rates, tuition and verified admissions data. Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.

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    Bars: admit rate on a 0–100% scale; tuition relative to the highest tuition shown here.