West Chester University
About West Chester University
- The fourth largest university in the Philadelphia region.
- One of the 14 universities that comprise Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.
- A public, regional, comprehensive institution, founded in 1871 as an institute for teacher preparation. In addition to education, which is the most popular major today, music instruction has been part of the school’s curriculum since its founding.
- Approximately 13,621 students: 2,137 graduate and 11,484 undergraduate. (Fall 2008).
- Organized into five Colleges: Arts and Sciences; Business and Public Affairs; Education; Health Sciences; and Visual and Performing Arts.
- Currently offers more than 80 undergraduate and 70 master’s degree programs taught by 568 full-time and 149 part-time faculty. (Fall 2008).
- Students are primarily from Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. In total, students come from 32 different states and 29 different countries.
- The undergraduate student body is 63% female, 37% male and 14% students of color. (Fall 2008).
- The University supports 24 men’s and women’s athletic teams – the largest varsity program in NCAA Division II.
- The “golden ram” is the University’s official mascot. A bronze statue of the ram, inspired by the big-horned sheep that graze in Wyoming’s snow-capped mountains, stands at the corner of West Rosedale Ave. and Church St. in front of the University’s Old Library building.