West Chester University Enrolls Largest Freshman Class

WEST CHESTER, PA — As the country emerges from the pandemic, West Chester University remains the destination of choice for students in Pennsylvania and beyond.

The freshman class of 3,006 is the largest class in the university’s 150 year history. The increase is 12% increase over last year’s freshman enrollment.

Overall enrollment at the university is 17,275 students, with West Chester remaining the largest university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

“A West Chester University education is an exceptional value,” Chris Fiorentino, West Chester University president, said.

The annual in-state tuition remains $7,700 — which is considerably less than the nearly $20,000 to $60,000 one would pay at some other universities, the president noted.

“With a competitive price tag, West Chester is known to deliver academic excellence; our students spend time with exceptional professors and excellent researchers; and our students are surrounded by a community of educators dedicated to their success,” Fiorentino said.

Amidst the nationwide shift in high-school-student demographics, particularly in Pennsylvania, impactful trends were noted in WCU’s large, first-year class this fall:

• 24% increase in students of color
• 25% increase in out-of-state students
• 22% increase in first-year Federal Pell Grant students

The academic profile of the University’s incoming first-year class has remained consistent over the last decade, too.

The academic profile of the 2014 incoming class was a 3.5 GPA, 1074 SAT, and a 24 ACT.

Today’s class, which is 28% larger, has an academic profile of a 3.5 GPA, 1145 SAT, and a 25 ACT.

For the fall 2023 admissions cycle, the University has already averaged a 35% increase in first-year applications in comparison to last year.

Laurie Bernotsky, executive vice president and provost, said the university is accessible and affordable.

“While there are lots of schools fighting for that top 1% of students who can pay top dollar for a college education, we’ll proudly focus our attention on the remaining 99%.” she said.

The university recently obtained an R2 designation from Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, which means the university has high research activity going on.

New data from U.S. News and World Report’s college rankings show that of the 128 R2 schools in the nation, West Chester University ranks 26 on its overall graduation and retention rate.

“At West Chester University, we are a teaching-centered institution,” Fiorentino said. “We are not looking to change who we are. That means that we are putting strong teachers who are also strong researchers into the classroom.

“That research allows faculty and students to collaborate and their collaboration leads directly to student success.”

West Chester University is a comprehensive public institution offering a diverse range of more than 180 academic opportunities in 40 fields of study across undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.
In addition to its main campus in West Chester, the University offers programs through its graduate center, the campus in Philadelphia, and online.