WCU Facts

West Chester University: Vital Stats

  • The fourth largest university in the Philadelphia region.
  • The largest of the 14 universities in Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education.
  • Organized into five Colleges and two Schools:
    • College of Arts and Humanities
    • College of Business and Public Management
    • College of Education and Social Work
    • College of Health Sciences
    • College of the Sciences and Mathematics
    • School of Music
    • School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies
  • More than 118 undergraduate, 91 master's degree programs, and 4 doctoral programs taught by 729 full-time and 247 part-time faculty.
  • Classes offered Fall and Spring semesters, accelerated Summer and Winter sessions, in Center City Philadelphia, and online.

Enrollment

  • Approximately 17,010 degree seeking students: 2,608 graduate and 14,402 undergraduate. (Fall 2016)
  • Students primarily come from Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and Maryland.
  • Students come from 36 different states and 74 different countries.
  • The undergraduate student body is 60% female, 40% male and 22% students of color.

Tradition

  • Founded: 1871
  • Nickname: Golden Rams
  • Colors: Purple and Gold
  • Mascot: Rammy

  Official Name Changes

  • 1871 - West Chester State Normal School
  • 1927 - West Chester State Teachers College
  • 1960 - West Chester State College
  • 1983 - West Chester University of Pennsylvania

  Student Life

  • In 2016-17, WCU students contributed more than 755,000 hours of volunteer and community service to 200+ non-profit and governmental agencies.
  • More than 288 student clubs and organizations.
  • WCU sponsors one of the largest varsity programs in NCAA Division II with 24 intercollegiate men's and women's sports.
  • 23 registered sports clubs from bowling and fencing to ultimate Frisbee and water polo. Intramural sports are also offered, and include flag football and indoor volleyball.
  • 13 undergraduate residence facilities located on North and South campus offer a choice of suite-style, apartments, and traditional-style living.
  • Approximately 93% of the University's first-year students live on campus.

  Campus Profile

  • 406-acre campus.
  • Located 25 miles west of Philadelphia in West Chester, PA.
  • A 10-minute walk "uptown" is historic West Chester, offering small-town charm with cosmopolitan flair and unique shops, restaurants, and festivals.
  • The academic quad is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The buildings included in this historic district are Philips Memorial Building, Ruby Jones Hall, Recitation Hall and the Old Library.
  • WCU South Campus 
    Located less than one mile from North Campus, South Campus includes the College of Health Sciences, athletic fields, tennis courts, Farrell Stadium, Graham Natatorium swimming pool, 100-acre Gordon Natural Area, an adventure course, and student residential facilities.
  • WCU Graduate Center 
    1160 McDermott Drive 
    West Chester, PA 19382 
    Located less than five miles from North Campus, the Graduate Center houses the MBA Program and several other West Chester University programs and initiatives:
  • WCU Philadelphia Location 
    Philadelphia Multi-University Center Mellon Independence Center 
    701 Market Street, Concourse Level 
    Philadelphia, PA 19106 
    Since 2013, WCU has offered undergraduate and graduate programs at the Philadelphia location. Classes are mainly scheduled in the late afternoon and evening to accommodate working professionals.

  Highlights

  • The University's business programs hold prestigious international accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
  • The College of Education programs also have the highest accreditation in the field.
  • The Honors College is unique for its strong service component.
  • Music has been taught at the University since its founding in 1871. Today, West Chester is among only 137 colleges and universities in the world with "all-Steinway" designation.
  • The Frederick Douglass Institute commemorates the intellectual heritage of Frederick Douglass, the former slave, distinguished orator, journalist, author, and statesman, who was a frequent visitor to the West Chester area, and who gave his last public lecture on West Chester's campus on Feb. 1, 1895. Among other activities, the Institute helps to advance multicultural studies across the curriculum.
  • WCU has won the Dixon Trophy 3 out of the last 4 academic years. The Dixon Trophy is handed out to the top overall athletic program in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).

  Select Rankings

  • Top 100 Best Values in Public Colleges & Universities, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
  • The Community Engagement Classification for Curricular Engagement and Outreach and Partnerships, The Carnegie Foundation (2010-2020)
  • 2005 - 2015 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, Corporation for National & Community Service