WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA M-22

University Ave. and High St.
West Chester, PA 19383
Tel: (610)436-1000
Admissions: (610)436-3414
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: http://www.wcupa.edu/

Description:

State-supported, comprehensive, coed. Part of Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Awards bachelor's and master's degrees. Founded 1871. Setting: 547-acre suburban campus with easy access to Philadelphia. Endowment: $11.3 million. Research spending 2003-04: $285,989. Educational spending 2003-04: $4330 per student. Total enrollment: 12,822. Faculty: 787 (570 full-time, 217 part-time). Student-undergrad faculty ratio is 18:1. 10,403 applied, 51% were admitted. 12% from top 10% of their high school class, 57% from top quarter, 82% from top half. Full-time: 9,407 students, 62% women, 38% men. Part-time: 1,237 students, 56% women, 44% men. Students come from 35 states and territories, 11% from out-of-state, 0.3% Native American, 2% Hispanic, 8% black, 2% Asian American or Pacific Islander, 0.4% international, 13% 25 or older, 30% live on campus, 9% transferred in. Retention: 83% of full-time freshmen returned the following year. Academic areas with the most degrees conferred: education; business/marketing; English. Core. Calendar: semesters. Academic remediation for entering students, ESL program, services for LD students, advanced placement, accelerated degree program, self-designed majors, honors program, independent study, distance learning, double major, summer session for credit, part-time degree program, adult/continuing education programs, internships, graduate courses open to undergrads. Off campus study at members of the National Student Exchange. Study abroad program. ROTC: Army (c), Air Force (c).

Entrance Requirements:

Options: electronic application, early admission, deferred admission. Required: essay, high school transcript, SAT or ACT. Recommended: minimum 3.0 high school GPA. Required for some: recommendations, interview. Entrance: moderately difficult. Application deadline: Rolling. Notification: continuous.

Costs Per Year:

Application fee: $35. State resident tuition: $4810 full-time, $200 per credit part-time. Nonresident tuition: $12,026 full-time, $501 per credit part-time. Mandatory fees: $1196 full-time, $46 per credit part-time. Full-time tuition and fees vary according to course load. Part-time tuition and fees vary according to course load. College room and board: $5782. College room only: $3098. Room and board charges vary according to board plan and housing facility.

Collegiate Environment:

Orientation program. Drama-theater group, choral group, marching band, student-run newspaper, radio station. Social organizations: 205 open to all; national fraternities, national sororities; 8% of eligible men and 8% of eligible women are members. Most popular organizations: Off Campus and Commuter Association, Residence Hall Association, Student Government Association, Sports Club Council. Major annual events: Homecoming, Family Day, Alumni Weekend. Student services: legal services, health clinic, personal-psychological counseling, women's center. Campus security: 24-hour emergency response devices and patrols, late night transport-escort service. 3,880 college housing spaces available; 3,166 were occupied in 2003-04. Freshmen given priority for college housing. Options: coed, women-only housing available. Francis Harvey Green Library plus 1 other with 744,976 books, 879,548 microform titles, 4,593 serials, 72,486 audiovisual materials, an OPAC, and a Web page. Operations spending 2003-04: $4 million. 700 computers available on campus for general student use. A campuswide network can be accessed from student residence rooms and from off campus. Staffed computer lab on campus.

Community Environment:

Population 20,000. Essentially a residential and college community, West Chester is the county seat of a region rich in colonial history. Local industries include pharmaceuticals, firefighting foam, electrical appliances, air compressors, tags and labels, and refrigerated cabinets. The average January temperature is 31.5 degrees, and the average July temperature is 75 degrees. The community is provided transportation by railroad, bus lines, and an airport nearby. There are several churches, a YMCA, hospital, and public library serving the community. Local recreation includes swimming, bowling, volleyball, tennis, hunting, fishing, and golf. Civic and fraternal organizations are active within the area.