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About California
What sets PennWest California apart?
Founded in 1852, PennWest California is located in California (pop. 6,800), a borough
in rural southwestern Pennsylvania, about 35 miles from Pittsburgh. In 2015, Safewise
ranked California, Pennsylvania among the top 50 Safest College Towns in America.
The Princeton Review has also ranked PennWest California as one of Best Colleges in
the Northeast (17 consecutive years as of 2022).
Other incredible distinction we have received are:
Our 294-acre campus includes top recreation facilities, best-in-class housing options, plenty of green space, and an on-campus farm used for recreation and learning activities.
Fast Facts
- PennWest California welcomes students from the U.S. and around the world.
- Our students come from all 50 states, three U.S. territories, and about 30 countries.
- Our community includes more than 4,500 undergraduate and 2,000 graduate students, with nearly 20% of PennWest California students representing minority populations and 6% of our undergraduate students in active military service, members of the reserves or national guard, or veterans and their dependents.
Our History
Founded in 1852 as the California Academy, the school was soon chartered as a normal
school to prepare men and women to teach in Pennsylvania's public classrooms. It was
renamed the South Western Normal College in 1875 and California State Normal School
in 1914.
The school achieved collegiate status in 1928 and became California State Teachers College. It granted four-year degrees in elementary and secondary education and was known for its strengths in industrial arts and special education.
With the introduction of liberal arts programs in 1959, the school's name was changed to California State College. A graduate program was introduced at Cal State in 1962, and in 1974 the college developed a special mission in science and technology.
In 1983, the college became part of the commonwealth's State System of Higher Education and changed its name to California University of Pennsylvania. In the same year, California University of Pennsylvania College of Science and Technology became fully operational; it was renamed the Eberly College of Science and Technology in 1996. In 2022 Pennsylvania Western University was established.