West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public institution that was founded in 1871. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 14,402 on a suburban 409 acre campus. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. West Chester University of Pennsylvania's ranking in the 2017 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities (North), 61. Its in-state tuition and fees are $9,144 (2014-15); out-of-state tuition and fees are $19,374 (2014-15). West Chester University is a leading comprehensive university that excels in teacher education, business, health, natural and social sciences, music and the arts. WCU is committed to high quality education at every level and offers more than 180 undergraduate and graduate programs, through in-class instruction, hybrid models and online options. WCU strives to create offerings that fill industry needs, resulting in highly sought-after programs like the B.S. in Pharmaceutical Product Development, AACSB-accredited business programs and a plethora of health science programs. West Chester University has been recognized as both a top regional university and a top public school in the north, a top school for veterans and a top 100 best buy. West Chester University competes in NCAA Division II athletics and has more than 20 varsity programs (making us one of the largest DII programs in the country), including one of the only varsity women's rugby programs in the county. The University has hundreds of students groups on campus, ranging from Active Minds and the Cycling Club to Ultimate Frisbee and Water Polo and everything in between. Honor societies? WCU has nearly 30. Greek life? There are 16 fraternities and 18 sororities to choose from. The University also has more than a dozen service organizations whose work on campus and beyond has led to WCU being named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. In fact, WCU students, faculty and staff volunteered for more than 800,000 hours of service last year alone. As a cultural center, WCU offers over 200 concerts, exhibits, speakers and visiting artists annually that are open to the public with over 100,000 in attendance, as well as student-only entertainment. Unique Qualities: At West Chester University we want to make sure that you feel at home as soon as you set foot on campus. From our welcoming community and beautiful campus to our outstanding faculty members and opportunities for leadership positions with hundreds of campus organizations, WCU specializes in creating a personalized educational experience. Worried that you'll be a number if you choose a state school? At West Chester University, you'll be number one. Our faculty members are teaching in the classroom each day. You'll never settle for a teaching fellow or grad assistant, and with a student to faculty ratio of 20:1, you'll get to know and build relationships with your professors. With more than 100 programs of study distributed through five distinct colleges (plus an additional community service-based honors college) and our School of Music, you're free to pursue your current interests and any others you pick up along the way. While our main campus is located in West Chester, PA, our students are everywhere! Not only do we offer courses in Philadelphia and online, we also offer programs around the world. At WCU, we encourage our students to get out and explore the world around them. Study abroad locations range from Australia and Brazil to South Africa and Turkey, and anywhere else you can think of. Can't decide where to go? Take more than one trip! While WCU still offers the traditional full semester and year-long stays, more and more faculty members are signing on to lead intersession trips that can last as little as a week. We can go on and on about all of the unique qualities that make WCU so amazing, but why not come and see for yourself? Check us out online, or better yet, come for a visit and make it WCyou.

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