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WestchesterPhoto: Zoewscott · Public domain
Colleges in and near West Chester

West Chester is a college town: 37 of every 100 residents are students

West Chester University of Pennsylvania (15,394 students on campus) is inside the borough. Across Pennsylvania, 6 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.

College town37% of residents are studentsWest Chester University of Pennsylvania

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of West Chester. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
15
46,467 students on campus
Nearest college
0.6 mi
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Residents in college
37%
Above PA (6%)
Nearest community college
10.4 mi
Williamson College of the Trades · $31,611 tuition
Nearest public university
0.6 mi
West Chester University of Pennsylvania · $10,775 in-state
Students on campus in West Chester
15,394
next to 19,591 residents

What stands out about college in West Chester

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college town37 of every 100 West Chester residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Pennsylvania.A university in West ChesterWest Chester University of Pennsylvania has 15,394 students on campus in West Chester, 71% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at West Chester University of PennsylvaniaLiving in Pennsylvania, West Chester University of Pennsylvania charges $10,775 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $22,599. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 10.4 miles awayWilliamson College of the Trades in Media: tuition and fees $31,611 a year for Pennsylvania residents.
Town & gown

What it’s like to live in West Chester

How much the colleges shape the town, from the Census Bureau’s survey of residents.

37 of every 100 West Chester residents are in college (PA: 6).

15,394students on campus at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, next to 19,591 residents (dorm students count as residents)
2,725college students live in West Chester households rather than dorms
25.3median age · PA 40.9
55%of residents are women · PA 51% (±2.1 points)
65%of homes rented · PA 31%
$1,731median rent · 43% above the state
West ChesterWest Chester, PA
Cost of living$1,731/mo median rentDSafetyCrime reported to the FBIB−HealthCDC estimatesBJobs & incomeIncome, jobs, getting aroundB+HandbookTrash day, parking, who to call

How students change West Chester’s other numbers

Read the town’s other grades with this in mind. How TownRatings handles college towns →

Jobs & income B+

Students who live off campus count in the Census poverty figures: 20.8% of West Chester residents are below the poverty line, 13.8% when college students are left out (that estimate could be off by 7 points either way). 53% of the students themselves are below the line. In college towns, the Jobs & income grade uses the rate without students and leaves unemployment out.

Cost of living D

The Cost grade leaves out the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent wherever students are a quarter of residents or more (37% here): it would mostly measure student incomes.

Health B

CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and West Chester’s median age is 25.3 (Pennsylvania 40.9), so the adult figures describe a young population.

Safety B−

Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.

Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of West Chester

10 private colleges within 15 miles, four public colleges within 8.6 miles, and three community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miWest Chester University of PennsylvaniaVillanova UniversityDelaware CountyWest Chester
University or collegeCommunity college
West Chester University of PennsylvaniaUniversity or college · Public · 15,394 on campus · In West Chester78%admitted$23knet price71%graduate$61kearningsCheyney University of PennsylvaniaUniversity or college · Public · 696 on campus · 4.5 mi · Cheyney$14knet price41%graduate$38kearningsImmaculata UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,736 on campus · 5.1 mi · Immaculata86%admitted$24knet price71%graduate$76kearningsPennsylvania State University-Penn State Great ValleyUniversity or college · Public · 244 on campus · 7.8 mi · Malvern$63kearningsEarnings are reported for all 22 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BrandywineUniversity or college · Public · 1,216 on campus · 8.6 mi · Media98%admitted$23knet price26%graduate$63kearningsEarnings are reported for all 22 campuses that file with it.Universal Technical Institute of Pennsylvania IncUniversity or college · For-profit · 999 on campus · 8.7 mi · Exton$25knet price63%graduate$51kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Williamson College of the TradesCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 313 on campus · 10.4 mi · Media22%admitted$2knet price83%graduateTuition and fees: $31,611 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Neumann UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,914 on campus · 10.6 mi · Aston81%admitted$28knet price54%graduate$58kearningsDelaware County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,578 on campus · 11.3 mi · Media$7knet price24%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $6,930 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Valley ForgeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 408 on campus · 11.3 mi · Phoenixville61%admitted$32knet price49%graduate$39kearningsPennsylvania Institute of TechnologyCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 604 on campus · 12 mi · Media$18knet price21%graduate$36kearningsTuition and fees: $14,850 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Swarthmore CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,644 on campus · 13.8 mi · Swarthmore7%admitted$23knet price92%graduate$80kearningsEastern UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,192 on campus · 13.9 mi · Saint Davids · mostly online91%admitted$27knet price54%graduate$52kearnings69% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Widener UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,531 on campus · 14.9 mi · Chester71%admitted$26knet price68%graduate$71kearningsVillanova UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,998 on campus · 15 mi · Villanova27%admitted$44knet price92%graduate$100kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where West Chester’s median household income ($78,385) falls.

Williamson College of the Trades10.4 mi · Media · sticker $37,263 · tuition $31,611$1,545a year
Delaware County Community College11.3 mi · Media · sticker $13,530 · tuition $6,930$9,918a year
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania4.5 mi · Cheyney · sticker $26,782$20,215a year
Swarthmore College13.8 mi · Swarthmore · sticker $84,103$22,443a year
Immaculata University5.1 mi · Immaculata · sticker $43,979$24,204a year
West Chester University of PennsylvaniaIn West Chester · sticker $28,394$24,715a year
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine8.6 mi · Media · sticker $31,088$25,067a year
Widener University14.9 mi · Chester · sticker $70,621$25,900a year
Eastern University13.9 mi · Saint Davids · mostly online · sticker $55,001$25,963a year
Universal Technical Institute of Pennsylvania Inc8.7 mi · Exton · sticker $30,648$26,264a year
Neumann University10.6 mi · Aston · sticker $57,180$30,495a year
University of Valley Forge11.3 mi · Phoenixville · sticker $45,422$33,146a year
Villanova University15 mi · Villanova · sticker $84,793$33,389a year
Pennsylvania Institute of Technology12 mi · Media · sticker $23,995 · tuition $14,850—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of West Chester: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k$120k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →West Chester University of PennsylvaniaNeumann UniversityDelaware CountyEastern UniversityWidener UniversityVillanova University
West Chester University of Pennsylvania71% graduate$61k earnings$24k typical debt
Villanova University92% graduate$100k earnings$26k typical debt
Delaware County Community College24% graduate$45k earnings$13k typical debt
Widener University68% graduate$71k earnings$27k typical debt
Eastern University54% graduate$52k earnings$25k typical debt
Neumann University54% graduate$58k earnings$27k typical debt
Immaculata University71% graduate$76k earnings$27k typical debt
Swarthmore College92% graduate$80k earnings$18k typical debt
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine26% graduate$63k earnings*$25k typical debt
Universal Technical Institute of Pennsylvania Inc63% graduate$51k earnings*$14k typical debt
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania41% graduate$38k earnings$22k typical debt
Pennsylvania Institute of Technology21% graduate$36k earnings$16k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine (22); Universal Technical Institute of Pennsylvania Inc (5).

Majors

What students study in West Chester

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 26%Health professions 14%Education 10%Psychology 9%Parks & recreation 5%Public safety 5%Everything else 31%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing224 graduates a year
$98k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in West Chester

Is West Chester a college town?

Yes. 37 of every 100 West Chester residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 6 across Pennsylvania. West Chester University of Pennsylvania has 15,394 students on campus, next to 19,591 residents.

What colleges are in West Chester?

West Chester University of Pennsylvania is inside the borough. Williamson College of the Trades is 10.4 miles away in Media.

Why is West Chester’s poverty rate so high?

Students who live off campus count in the Census figures. 20.8% of residents are below the poverty line; leaving college students out, 13.8% are (ACS 2020–24, give or take 7 points).

What is the closest community college to West Chester, and what does it cost?

Williamson College of the Trades in Media, 10.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $31,611 a year for Pennsylvania residents; the federal net price, $1,545, counts housing and food at full cost.

How hard is it to get into West Chester University of Pennsylvania?

West Chester University of Pennsylvania admitted 78% of applicants in the Scorecard’s latest year; the middle half of admitted students scored 1,100–1,270 on the SAT.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of West Chester. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →