We toured West Chester a few weeks ago and it really impressed us. They are really growing and we loved the town. We live fairly close and have been there for events before, but looking at it through a new lens and it would be a very attractive option for our D. She wants to go away to school, so it is not on the list right now but we wanted her to have all the facts and be familiar with the school in the event she goes away and is unhappy. We wanted her to feel like she had options back at home to transfer to if needed.
@novicemom23kids - Thanks for the info on West Chester. Since we live on the other side of PA…would you classify West Chester of more of a commuter school? Do kids stay on the weekends?
I always thought it was NOT a commuter school anymore - the town and surrounding area are filled with college kids at all times (we know this first hand from traveling in the area frequently for kids EC’s). I did ask several people on our tour this question - students and employees. They confirmed that it is not really a commuter school - but it still retains some of a “suitcase” school population. There are a fair number of kids who live within a few hours of home (PA, DE, and NJ) that go home for the weekend, or go to other colleges to visit friends. Almost every adult that i asked about this also commented that this is quickly changing. Some adults wished that more would leave on the weekends - that it was changing the demographics of the town (these were people we met at dinner after the tour who noticed her tour information and struck up a conversation.) There are more and more out of state kids, there are Greek organizations, service organizations, and faith based organizations that have activities all of the time.
We did meet some students from out of state in the food line and they said they rarely go home. These kids mentioned festivals in town, activities that the campus hosts (including above groups), and also the King of Prussia Mall (huge mall about 30 minutes away) as their main activities. They also mentioned going into Philadelphia once this semester for a concert. They were all very happy with their choice. This made a huge impression on D.
Thank you for the info!!!
My test scores were actually terrible, 1410 old SAT. My GPA was okay, 3.3
I received about $20,000 merit & $12,000 of financial aid. My price for this year is about $19,000 (before student loans). I know 19K isn’t cheap, but it’s much better than 51K, and my state has great loan programs. My parents & I won’t pay more than $230 per month.
Some girls I’ve met with good, not great SATs (1700) are only paying about $9,000, with little coming from financial aid! @Portercat
Awesome…that is for La Salle…correct?
Yes 
@bester1
Tell me about your experience visiting/touring La Salle. Likes and dislikes?? Thank you!
Likes: Pretty campus, friendly people, good reputation, financial aid office was amazing (offered us $2,000 per year extra during our meeting), shuttles every 20 minutes from 7 AM-11 PM
Dislikes: It’s kind of far from central Philly. Neighborhood to the west was a little sketchy looking, but we were told it’s not dangerous.
Thanks @newjerseygirl98! I live outside of Philly and while the campus is nice the surrounding neighborhoods can get sketchy. So the $12000 financial aid includes loans?
No, the financial aid is without the student loans. So $17,500 of financial aid including loans. @Portercat
I would love to hear if anyone know of other private colleges that give any merit for lower stat kids, like ACT less than 25 but maybe a pretty good gpa like newjerseygirl98?
See the colleges I listed above. They’re pretty generous with merit if you demonstrate interest early on.
The best PA/NY/CT schools I’ve received recommendations for, if they haven’t been mentioned already:
-Fairfield University
-Juanita College
-Lebanon Valley College
-Molloy College
-St. Bonaventure
-Siena College
-Susquehanna University
-U of Scranton
-Ursinus College
-Westminster College (PA)
Geneva and St Vincent are pretty generous. Also check net price at Juniata, Elizabethtown College.
Kids I know have gotten merit from St Francis University in Loretta PA, Allegheny College, Susquehanna, Lycoming College.
Usually the PASSHE schools have some smaller academic scholarships, it depends on school. BOG board of governor scholarship, not sure what you need to qualify for that.
IUP has the “Cook’s honors college”, which I thought was unique. The students who are accepted live in their own residence hall and take some classes in the building. They offer merit with that program and the cost for tuituon, room and board was several thousand lower than regular IUP cost, $17,000 instate when I checked. If you are $0 EFC and get a few thousand merit maybe and Pell and state grant of about $10k, it should be affordable with a student loan or summer work earnings.
Pitt Bradford also offers some merit I believe, maybe $5,000?
Around here if kids can’t get merit from Pitt and can’t afford PSU, they go to Temple or LACs like Allegheny, or commute to closest PSU branch (~$13k tuition), or Pitt branch, or PASSHE school.
I have heard great things about the Cook Honors College. IUP is really a beautiful campus with many opportunities. Recently, the schools reputation has taken a hit but I think the potential for a solid education is there.
I thought that this was interesting as YSU is trying to hold down the costs…here you go…http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20160603/NEWS/160609935/youngstown-state-university-plans-to-freeze-undergraduate-tuition
this wound be another nightmare for PA residents and the PASSHE system and students…ugh…
That’s terrible. And it looks like if they’re going to go on strike it won’t be until the semester is well underway, presumably well past the drop period. Not sure what I would do as a parent in that situation.