- Data Insights that guide strategic initiatives and improve student experiences.
- Research Analysis to evaluate university performance and outcomes.
- Interactive Tableau Dashboards that bring data to life in visual, accessible formats.
- Survey Lifecycle Support, helping gather feedback to continuously improve our academic and campus environment.
Institutional Research
The Office of Institutional Research (IR) empowers data-informed decision-making of
PennWest administration, faculty, and staff through accurate and timely data collection,
reporting, and analysis. The office maintains the University's compliance with external
agencies through data submissions, survey responses, and policy assurance.
What We Do
The IR team is committed to supporting a data-informed culture across PennWest by providing:
Fast Facts
- Mission, Vision and Values
- Our History
- Founded: 2022
- Name: Pennsylvania Western University, commonly referred to as PennWest
- Location: Pennsylvania Western University is the second-largest public university in PA, with a global online presence and three physical campuses spanning from south of Pittsburgh to the shores of Erie.
- Campuses:
California
250 University Ave
California, PA 15419Clarion
909 E. Wood St
Clarion, PA 16214Edinboro
219 Meadville Street
Edinboro, PA 16444
- Accreditation: PennWest is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), an institutional accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE).
- Consumer Information
Enrollment: 10,206, including 6,986 undergraduates and 3,220 graduate students.
*Data as of Fall 2024 Census
- Total University Enrollment
- Enrollment Demographics:
- Student FTE
- IPEDS Student-to-Faculty Ratio
- PASSHE Student-to-Faculty Ratio
- Census Enrollment Demographics by Federal Cohort:
PennWest has 3 Academic Colleges and 14 Departments, with more than 90 degree programs.
*Data as of Fall 2024
- IPEDS Faculty and Staff
- Alumni: More than 205,000 living Alumni, with nearly 134,000 of those alumni living in PA
*As of March 2025
- Student Organizations: In the 2024-2025 academic year, PennWest had 236 recognized student organizations involving more than 4,060 students.
- Athletics: 21 NCAA Division II men’s teams and 30 women’s teams and 2 NCAA Division I men’s sports; a total of 53 intercollegiate teams in 2024-25.
- Club Sports: 26
California Clubs
Baseball
Cheerleading
Dance Team
Equestrian
Fencing
Hockey
Rugby (Men's)
Rugby (Women's)
Soccer
VolleyballClarion Clubs
Cheerleading
Rugby (Men's)
Rugby (Women's)
Volleyball (Women's)Edinboro Clubs
Baseball
Basketball (Men's)
Basketball (Women's)
Cheerleading
Dance Team
Disc Golf
Equestrian
Fly Fishing
Shooting Sports
Soccer
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
- Carnegie Classification: Professions-focused Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate Medium
- Best Regional Universities: North
- U.S. News & World Report: Best Colleges – Top Public Regional Universities in the North and Top Regional Universities in the North
- Princeton Review: Best Colleges Region by Region: Mid-Atlantic
- Military Friendly School
- Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges List
*As of Spring 2025
Surveys
The purpose of survey research is to gather data in a systematic manner to identify patterns, trends, opinions, or experiences of a target population. At Pennsylvania Western University, surveys serve to analyze opinions, experiences and institutional effectiveness, aid in data collection for research studies, and assess and improve current programs.