Awards and Rankings

A top-ranked education brings out the best in you.

At PennWest California, we strive to be among the best public universities in the United States. Throughout our history, we've built a reputation for strong academics, great value and standout online and on-campus programs. Our undergraduate and graduate degrees are regularly ranked among the best college programs in the nation. 

Princeton Review

Honored again for 2022!

For 17 consecutive years, PennWest California has been named one of the best schools in the Northeast. 

Colleges of Distinction

Colleges of Distinction, 2019, 2020, 2021
Pennsylvania Colleges of Distinction, 2019, 2020, 2021
Public Colleges of Distinction, 2019, 2020, 2021
Business Colleges of Distinction, 2019, 2020, 2021
Education Colleges of Distinction, 2019, 2020, 2021
Engineering Colleges of Distinction, 2019, 2020, 2021
Equity and Inclusion Colleges of Distinction, 2020, 2021
Career Development Colleges of Distinction, 2019, 2020, 2021

U.S. News and World Report

Best Online Programs, Bachelor's Degree Programs, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Best Online Programs, Graduate Education Program, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Best Online Programs, Graduate Nursing Program, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
Best Online Programs, Graduate MBA Program, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Best Online Programs, Graduate Criminal Justice Program, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Best Online Programs, Bachelor's Degree Programs for Veterans, 2015, 2017, 2018
Online Bachelor's Degree Programs with the highest 6-year completion rate  

Veterans and Military

MilitaryFriendlySchools.com - GI Jobs' Military-Friendly School, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Military Advanced Education - Top Military-Friendly University, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017
Military Times EDGE - Best for Vets, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 

Fulbright Programs

Fulbright Specialist Program - Four current faculty have participated
Fulbright Student Awards - Two faculty participated as students
Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant - 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019

Other Awards

2022
  • #1 Best Legal Professions Bachelor's Degree Schools in Pennsylvania - collegefactual.com 
  • #3 Most Affordable Online Sports Psychology Programs (M.S. in Exercise Science and Health Promotion: Sport Psychology) - OnlinePsychologyDegree.info
  • #5 Best Online Law Degree Programs (Doctor of Criminal Justice) - Intelligent.com
  • #5 Best Online Master's in Criminology Programs (M.A. in Criminal Justice Studies: Applied Criminology) - Intelligent.com
  • #6 Best Online Master's in Negotiation and Conflict Management Degree Programs (M.A. in Conflict Resolution) - Intelligent.com
  • #7 Best Master's in Training and Development Degree Programs (M.S. in Athletic Training) - Intelligent.com
  • #7 Best Online Bachelor's in Kinesiology Degree Programs, Fastest Time to Completion (B.S. in Exercise Science) - Intelligent.com
  • #13 Best Online Applied Behavior Analysis Graduate Programs (ABA Post-Master's Certificate) - AppliedBehaviorAnalysisPrograms.com
  • #13 Best Online Legal Studies Degree (B.A. in Jurisprudence) - BachelorsDegreeCenter.org
  • #15 Best Legal Professions Bachelor's Degree Schools - collegefactual.com
  • Most Affordable Bachelor's in Liberal Studies - liberalartsedu.org
2021
  • Top Grad Programs 2021 – Abound (abound.college)
  • Top Online Programs for Adults (Undergraduate) – Abound (abound.college)
  • Best Undergraduate Graphic Design Schools – World Scholarship Forum.com
  • Best Master's in Sport Management Degree Programs – Intelligent.com
  • Best Master's in Public Policy Degree Programs (Legal Studies: Law and Public Policy) – Intelligent.com
  • #1 Most Popular Online Middle Eastern Semitic Languages Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania (Arabic) – GradDegree.com
  • #1 Best Value Health Sciences & Services Schools in Pennsylvania – GradDegree.com
  • #1 Most Popular Online Mental & Social Health Services Schools in Pennsylvania – GradDegree.com
  • #1 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Graduate Certificate Schools in the Mid-Atlantic Region – GradDegree.com
  • #1 Most Popular Online Foreign Languages & Linguistics Schools in the Mid-Atlantic Region – GradDegree.com
  • #1 Best Value, Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania (Data Science Graduate Certificate) – BusinessDegreeCentral.com
  • #1 Best Legal Professions Bachelor's Degree in Pennsylvania - Collegefactual.com
  • #2 Top Online Ph.D. in Criminal Justice Degree Programs – Collegevaluesonline.com
  • #4 Best Value Economics Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region – BusinessDegreeCentral.com
  • #4 Best Master's in Legal Studies Degree Programs, Best Online Program – Intelligent.com
  • #5 Best MBA Programs in Pennsylvania – BestValueSchools.com
  • #5 Best Master's in Crime Scene Investigation Degree Programs (Criminal Justice), Best Public University – Intelligent.com
  • #5 Most Popular Online Nursing Bachelor's Degree Schools in Pennsylvania – NursingDegreeSearch.com
  • #6 Top Online Christian Counseling Courses (Graduate Certificate in Spiritual, Ethical and Religious Counseling) – BestValueSchools.org
  • #7 Best Master's in Training and Development Degree Programs (Athletic Training), Best Hands-On Program – Intelligent.com
  • #8 Fastest Online Engineering Management Bachelor's Degree (B.S. in Industrial Technology Management) – GreatBusinessSchools.org
  • #9 College with the Best Dorms 2021 – UniversityMagazine.ca
  • #11 Best Master's in Counseling Degree Programs (Clinical Mental Health Counseling), Best Job Placement Rate – Intelligent.com
  • #11 Best Master's in Public Policy Degree Programs (Legal Studies), Best M.S. Degree – Intelligent.com
  • #11 Best Online Exercise Science and Kinesiology Bachelor's Programs – BestHealthDegrees.com
  • #12 Best Value Business Administration & Management Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania – BusinessDegreeCentral.com
  • #12 Most Affordable Colleges for Law Degrees Online (Legal Studies) – EduRef.net
  • #13 Best Master's in Negotiation and Conflice Management Degree Programs – Intelligent.com
  • #15 Great Value Colleges for a Master's in TESOL Online (M.Ed. in English as a Second Language) – GreatValueColleges.net
  • #15 Best Bachelor's Degrees in Social Science – Study.com
  • #15 Best Master's in K-12 Education Degree Programs – Intelligent.com
  • #15 Best Legal Professions Bachelor's Degree Schools - Collegefactual.com
  • #18 Best Bachelor's in Multimedia Design – BachelorsDegreeCenter.org
  • #19 Best Master's in Homeland Security Degree Programs (Legal Studies) – Intelligent.com
  • #31 Best Master's in Educational Psychology Degree Programs – Intelligent.com
  • #31 Best Master's in Behavioral Psychology Degree Programs – Intelligent.com
  • #32 Best RN to BSN Programs – Intelligent.com
  • #35 Best Master's in Sport Management Degree Programs – Intelligent.com
  • #36 Best Master's in Elementary Education Degree Programs – Intelligent.com
  • #37 Best Colleges in Pennsylvania – Intelligent.com
  • #44 Best Bachelor's Degrees in Anthropology – Study.com
  • #48 Best Master's in Early Childhood Education Programs – Intelligent.com
2020

 

  • Best Value (Grade: A) – CollegeFactual.com
  • Most Affordable Programs in Crime Scene Investigation and Forensic Science (2020-21) – CrimeSceneInvestigatorEdu.org
  • #1 Top Online Law Degrees (Intelligent Pick, Doctor of Criminal Justice) – Intelligent.com
  • #1 Best Online Master's in Legal Studies Programs (Intelligent Pick) – Intelligent.com
  • #1 ‘Most Focused’ Middle Eastern Language Schools (Arabic) – CollegeFactual.com
  • #2 Best Accredited Online Schools - Study.com
  • #2 Top PhD in Criminal Justice Online Programs - CollegeValuesOnline.com
  • #2 ‘Most Popular’ Middle Eastern Language Programs (Arabic) – CollegeFactual.com
  • #4 Best Online Master's in Security Programs (Best in the Northeast) – Intelligent.com
  • #4 Most Affordable Online Law Degrees (Bachelor's, Legal Studies) – OnlineU.com
  • #5 Most Affordable Online Homeland Security Degrees (Bachelor's) – OnlineU.com
  • #5 Best Online Master's in Security Negotiation and Conflict Management (Best Public University) – Intelligent.com
  • #5 Best ABA Master's Degree Program (Applied Behavior Analysis) – abadegreeprograms.net
  • #7 Best Affordable Colleges in Pennsylvania – Affordableschools.net
  • #8 Best Online Master's in Science Education Degree Programs (Best Comprehensive STEM Focus) – Intelligent. com
  • #9 Best Online Master's in K-12 Education (Best Educational Leadership Focus) – Intelligent.com
  • #9 Most Affordable Bachelor's in Kinesiology Online (B.S. in Exercise Science) – GreatValueColleges.net
  • #9 50 Best Colleges for Education Majors in 2020 – Study.com
  • #10 Professional Science Master in Cybersecurity - GetEducated.com
  • #10 Top Colleges for Veterans (Mid-Atlantic Region) – CollegeFactual.com
  • #10 Most Affordable TESOL Master's Online (Online M.Ed. in English as a Second Language) – TopEducationDegrees.org
  • #12 Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students (Mid-Atlantic Region) – CollegeFactual.com
  • #12 Most Affordable Online Master's in Accounting (Master of Accountancy) – OnlineU.org
  • #12 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in Legal Studies – GreatValueColleges.net
  • #13 Top Online Early Childhood Degree Programs (Best in the Northeast) – Intelligent.com
  • #14 Best Online BCBA Master's Degree Program (Best State University) – Intelligent.com
  • #14 Best Online Master's in Applied Behavioral Analysis Degreesdegreequery.com
  • #16 Best Online Master's in Exercise Science – GuideToOnlineSchools.com
  • #16 Most Affordable Bachelor's Degrees in Geography – GreatValueColleges.net
  • #24 Most Affordable Online BCBA Degree Programs (Nationally Recognized) – Intelligent.com
  • #25 Best Affordable Bachelor's in Geography – affordableschools.net
  • #26 Best Affordable Online Master's in Homeland Security and Emergency Management affordableschools.net
  • #27 Top Master's in Sports Management Degrees (Best Accelerated Option) – Intelligent.com
  • #28 Best Applied Behavior Analysis Graduate Certificate Online – AppliedBehaviorAnalysisPrograms.com
  • #31 Best Online Master's Degree in Sports Administration – onlineschoolsreport.com
  • #34 Top Online Bachelor's Degrees in Business Administration (Best State School) – Intelligent.com
2019
  • Best Online Doctorate in Criminal Justice — BestColleges.com
  • Most Affordable Colleges Offering Online Degrees (Master's) — EdSmart.org
  • Best Online Dual Masters Degree Programs  (MSN/MBA) — TheBestSchools.org
  • Top Master's in Secondary Education — OnlineMasters.com
  • Top Master's in Behavioral Analysis — OnlineMasters.com
  • Most Affordable Master's in Counseling – HumanServicesEdu.org
  • Most Affordable MSW and BSW programs — HumanServicesEdu.org
  • Top 30 fastest online MBA programs — MBACentral.org
  • #1 Best Online Doctorate in Criminal Justice Degree Programs — TheBestSchools.org
  • #2 Top Accredited Online Colleges – Study.com
  • #5 Best Online Bachelor's in Homeland Security programs BestColleges.com
  • #6 Best Colleges for Education Majors — Study.com
  • #6 Best MSN Degree Programs — Study.com
  • #7 Best Online Homeland Security Degrees OnlineSchoolsReport.com
  • #7 Best Special Education-Autism Online Master’s Degrees —TopEducationDegrees.org
  • #8 Best Pennsylvania Online MBA Degree Programs — MBACentral.org
  • #9 Best Online Master's in Behavioral Psychology — BestColleges.com
  • #10 Best Colleges for Linguistics — OnlineCollegePlan.com
  • #10 Best Online Master's in Legal Studies (Best for Homeland Security Careers) – OnlineMasters.com
  • #10 Best Online Master's in Negotiation & Conflict Management Degree Programs – TheBestSchools.org
  • #11 Best Online Master's in Criminology (Most Accelerated) – OnlineMasters.com
  • #12 Exceptional online Master of Science in Nursing degree programs - MastersProgramsGuide.com
  • #12 Best Online MSN, MSN-MBA, MBA Nursing Administration and Leadership — MastersProgramsguide.com
  • #13 Most Affordable Online Master's in Sports Science Degree Programs — SportsManagementDegreeGuide.com
  • #14 Top 20 Ph.D. in Sport Management Degrees (D.H.Sc. in Health Science and Exercise Leadership) — CollegeValuesOnline.com
  • #14 Best Master's in Negotiation and Conflict Management (Best in Collaborative Studies) — OnlineMasters.com
  • #15 Best Master's in Criminal Justice Studies: Applied Criminology — CollegeChoice.net
  • #15 Best Master’s in Forensic Science —CollegeChoice.net
  • #15 Best Online Master's in [Homeland] Security (Best Career Network) – OnlineMasters.com.
  • #16 Best Online Masters in Homeland Security Programs – BestColleges.com
  • #16 Best Early Childhood Education Schools - Study.com
  • #17 Most Affordable Online RN to BSN Programs — GreatValueColleges.net
  • #17 20 Best Affordable Colleges for RN-BSN Online 2019 - AffordableSchools.net
  • #18 Best Master's in Child Development — GradSchoolHub.com
  • #19 Best Online Master's in K-12 Education (Best in Weather and Climate Education) – OnlineMasters.com
  • #19 Most Affordable Online Master's in Educational Leadership and Administration — AffordableSchools.net
  • #19 Best Affordable Master's of Nursing Online Degrees - AffordableSchools.net
  • #20 Best Online Bachelor's in Coaching —CollegeChoice.net
  • #22 Best Master’s in Behavioral Analysis — OnlineMasters.com
  • #26 Best Online Master's in Science Education (Best in Leadership Development) – OnlineMasters.com
  • #26 Best Value Design Schools — CollegeFactual.com
  • #38 Best Computer Information Systems Colleges for the Money - CollegeFactual.com
  • #43 Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students — CollegeFactual.com
  • #47 Best Accredited Online Colleges & Universities - TheBestSchools.org
  • #48 Best Schools Offering an Online MBA with no GMAT Requirement -  TheBestSchools.org
  • #48 Best Online Bachelor's Degree Completion Programs - TheBestSchools.org
2018
  • #3 Best Online Middle Eastern Studies Programs - SuccessfulStudent.org
  • #3 Top Online Paralegal Programs - Paralegal411.com
  • #4 Affordable Online Bachelor's Degrees in Sports Management - AffordableColleges.com
  • #5 Best ABA Master's Degree Program - ABADegreePrograms.org
  • #7 Top Online Master’s in Applied Mathematics and Applied Statistics - BestCollegeReviews.org
  • #8 Best Value Online Master's Degree in Social Science, Conflict Resolution - GradSchoolHub.com
  • #8 Best Online Master’s in Behavioral Psychology - TheBestSchools.org
  • #8 Best Online Master's in Criminology Programs - TheBestSchools.org
  • #9 Top Online RN to BSN Programs - BestCollegeReview.org
  • #10 Best Online Colleges in Pennsylvania - BestColleges.com
  • #10 Best Online Master's in Legal Studies Programs - OnlineMasters.com
  • #10 Best Online Master's in Negotiation & Conflict Management Programs - TheBestSchools.org
  • #10 Top 20 Best Colleges for Linguistics - OnlineCollegePlan.com
  • #12 Online Master's in Educational Administration - TheBestColleges.org
  • #13 Most Affordable Online Legal Studies Degrees - CollegeChoice.net
  • #13 Most Affordable Master's In Security  Degrees - CollegeChoice.net
  • #15 Top Master’s in Sport Mgmt Online - TopManagementDegrees.com
  • #17 Best Online Master's in Homeland Security Degree Programs - TheBestSchools.org
  • #18 Best Online Master’s in Secondary Education - TheBestSchools.org
  • #20 Best Online Master's in Sport Management - TheBestSchools.org
  • #20 Best Online Legal Studies Degrees - CollegeChoice.net
  • #24 Best Online Master's in Early Childhood Education Degrees - CollegeChoice.net
  • #25 Best Online Master's in Security Degrees - CollegeChoice.net
  • #28 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in Computer Science - bestvalueschool.com
  • #49 Best Online MBA Programs (No GMAT Required) TheBestSchools.org
2017
  • #2 Top Online Degree Programs in Pennsylvania - Philadelphia Business Journal
  • #11 The 25 Best Student Union Centers - CollegeRank.net
  • #12 Top Online College for Bachelor's Degree - GuideToOnlineSchools.com
  • #13 The Most Affordable BSN Degrees Online - CollegeChoice.net
  • #15 Top Online College for Exercise Science Degree GuideToOnlineSchools.com
  • #20 Best Online Master's Degrees in Criminal Justice - BestMastersDegrees.com
  • #21 Top Online College for Secondary Education Degree GuideToOnlineSchools.com
  • #21 Top Ranked and Most Affordable Online Master's Degree Programs in Sport Management - BestMastersDegrees.com
  • #26 Top Online Colleges for an Online Masters Degree in Education - GraduatePrograms.com
  • Top 50 Best Value Online Bachelor's Degree of Homeland Security and Emergency Management - ValueColleges.com
2016
 
  • STEM Jobs Approved College Victory Media
  • #10 Best Value Online RN-BS - BestValueSchools.com
  • #16 for Student Success Outcomes (out of 206 public universities) - Eduventures 
  • #18 Best Online Bachelor's Degree Programs in Criminal Justice - BestDegreePrograms.org
2015
  • Diamond Award Best Graduate College - American Society of Registered Nurses
  • STEM Jobs Approved College Victory Media
  • #29 50 Safest College Towns in America - SafeWise
  • Best Online Master's Degree Programs, Criminal Justice - OnlineMastersPrograms.org
  • Best Online Master's Degree Programs, Psychology - Sports Psychology - OnlineMastersPrograms.org
  • Smart Choice SuperScholar 50 Best Online Master's Degree Programs, Early Childhood Education - SuperScholar.org
  • Top 50 Best Value Online MSN Programs - ValueColleges.com
2014
  • #3 Most Affordable Law Degree - Online College Rankings