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Aerial view of Pennsylvania Western University
Aerial imagery: U.S. Geological Survey (public domain). USGS

College · Catholic life on campus

Pennsylvania Western University

  • LocationCalifornia, PA
  • Type and sizePublic · 4-year · 11,305 students
Official website

Pennsylvania Western University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

The Diocese of Pittsburgh lists a Catholic campus ministry for PennWest California, the university's California, PA campus. The ministry's only published Mass schedule found is dated 2024.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Pennsylvania Western University, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches1 mi2 mi3 miSaint Peter's Church: 3.0 mi1Pennsylvania Western University (campus)N2 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Peter's Church — 3.0 mi · 304 Shaffner Avenue, Brownsville

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

N/ACatholic life on campus: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Catholic life on campus

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Yes
    Sources (1)
    1. Campus Ministry | Catholic Diocese of Pittsburghdiopitt.org/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “LaRoche University PennWest California Point Park University”
      The Diocese of Pittsburgh's campus ministry directory lists PennWest California among the campuses with a campus ministry.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 3 milesComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adorationNot enough information: no verified Mass times are recorded.

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • The Diocese of Pittsburgh lists a Catholic campus ministry for the PennWest California campus.
    Sources (1)
    1. Campus Ministry | Catholic Diocese of Pittsburghdiopitt.org/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “LaRoche University PennWest California Point Park University”
      The Diocese of Pittsburgh's campus ministry directory lists PennWest California among the campuses with a campus ministry.

Concerns

  • The only Mass schedule found is dated 2024.
    Sources (1)
    1. California University of PA | Catholic Diocese of Pittsburghdiopitt.org/calucatholic · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “7:00 p.m., beginning Sunday, September 8, 2024”
      The diocese's Cal U Catholic listing gives a Sunday 7:00 p.m. Mass with a start date in 2024; it is too old to support a current schedule.

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The Catholic center

Cal U Catholic

    Source: diopitt.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026

    Catholic campus ministry

    Sources (2)
    1. Campus Ministry | Catholic Diocese of Pittsburghdiopitt.org/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “LaRoche University PennWest California Point Park University”
      The Diocese of Pittsburgh's campus ministry directory lists PennWest California among the campuses with a campus ministry.
    2. California University of PA | Catholic Diocese of Pittsburghdiopitt.org/calucatholic · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Cal U Catholic is a community where students can actively grow in their faith through the Sacraments, service and immersion trips, and small groups.”
      The diocese describes Cal U Catholic, the campus ministry at the California, PA campus, as a community for students to grow in their faith.
      “Cal U Catholic is a community where students can actively grow in their faith through the Sacraments, service and immersion trips, and small groups.”
      The diocese describes Cal U Catholic, the campus ministry at the California, PA campus, as a community for students to grow in their faith.

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    Academic Excellence

    CAcademic Excellence: Mixed (grade C): 55 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
    56 of 100
    From federal data, on fixed published scales.

    Each measure counts for the share shown.

    • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.52%
    • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.72%
    • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,063 · ACT 21
    • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.18 to 1
    • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$11,506

    Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

    Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

    Cost and value

    Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

    Undergraduate students
    Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
    		8,336
    Total students11,305
    Average net price (per year)
    After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
    		$18,256
    Cost of attendance (per year)$26,916
    Median federal debt at graduation$23,725
    Graduation rate
    First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
    		52%
    First-year retention72%
    Median earnings 10 years after entry$47,295
    Admission rate94%
    Students receiving Pell grants38%
    Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
    Average SAT1063
    SAT reading & writing480–580
    SAT math460–560
    ACT composite17–25
    Test policyConsidered but not required

    Value index: 46 / 100 (how it’s computed)

    Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
    College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

    Local Church

    Diocese of Pittsburgh

    The Most Reverend Mark Eckman, Bishop of Pittsburgh

    Formal address: “Your Excellency”

    Source: usccb.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

    Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.

    About this school’s data

    Questions families ask

    Is Pennsylvania Western University a Catholic college?
    No. Pennsylvania Western University is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by Cal U Catholic.

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    Personal experiences from signed-in readers. Reviews are moderated automatically and never change a school’s grades.

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