Millersville and Shippensburg are EXTREMELY rural. Shippensburg is even worse than Millersville. I'd pick West Chester just for the area, but that's just a preference. BTW, I went to Millersville, but I grew up in rural PA, so it seemed natural at the time.

If I had a choice among those I'd choose WCU just because there's so much more going on there. I went to a school near Ship and while it was nice to be close to DC and such, it didn't compare to being able to hop on the train and go to Philly. I lived in Downingtown for 10 years and there's a lot I miss in that area.

You and I must have a very different definition of rural, or you’ve never been to Mansfield or Clarion.

I went with West Chester for my MPH. Be forewarned, getting ahold of housing is a pain in the neck. Nice area though, and seems decently safe

I went to Kutztown for the first two years, it’s quite rural. 30+ min to Reading or Allentown. I transferred to WCU and liked the area better. And yeah I think it’s a bit more reputable than most other PASSHE schools.

Or Lock Haven.

I went to and loved Ship. Went for my bachelors and enjoyed how quiet it is. I am from the Burbs of Philly so it was a nice change of pace. My SIL went to and loved WCU.

The more rural the place the more affordable the housing. West Chester is expensive.

Gotta get to..

If you’re focused strictly on academic reputation. Ship is the best of the 3 you mentioned.

Oh god, thanks for exposing that nugget of a memory I had forgotten about. Those awful commercials.

Of the three listed, I think West Chester is the best known (it is also the largest) but I’m not sure it’d be considered more academically reputable than the others. Go with the one you think will best accommodate your lifestyle and goals. Questions I’d ask include: Is one geographically closer to where you’ll be working after graduation? Does one have a “better” schedule of class meeting times? Will one be cheaper than the others? Good luck!

Ship has the best hoodies.

“Ship Happens” is such a great slogan

Indiana University of PA

When I went to / worked at WCU I lived in Media. Not a bad commute and at the time there were lots of options for apartments.

Ship, West Chester, and Millersville all have a good reputation, so I'd really base it on which location is better for you.

Millersville and West Chester definitely have more to do nearby than Ship, but Ship has WAY more stores and businesses than it did when I was there for undergrad (20+ years ago - I'm old). I enjoyed my time at Ship; just keep in mind that it doesn't have the shopping and restaurant options that the other 2 schools have.

Ship has the best MBA program of the 3. The downside is that it happens to be in Shippensburg. I went to Millersville for Undergrad and grew up/currently live near Shippensburg. Let me know if you have any questions.

If you decide to go to shippensburg I would consider getting an apartment in Carlisle. It’s about 20 minutes away but is a walkable bustling town, unlike shippensburg.

Definitely West Chester, although the area is a bit more expensive and harder to find housing. West Chester’s MBA and online MBA programs are quickly growing and highly reputable.

West Chester is the only one that is significantly growing, unlike most which as getting smaller and smaller. Shippensburg and Millersville are both relatively static I think.

West Chester has the closest proximity to some big places, like wc and Philly and it’s suburbs. Millersville isn’t too bad either, with Lancaster decently close and a long drive to Harrisburg or York.

Is the job you have lined up near any of these areas or would you want to get a job in those areas? Getting connections in the area you’re working in could be helpful as well.

I don’t agree with this, WCU is commonly known as the largest, most growing, and most reputable with generally more offerings.

How is Millersville rural? it is a few miles from Lancaster.

I respectfully disagree. I like both schools and sent kids to both. Again strictly academics, check the accreditations, Ship is more prestigious.

Calu for life!! 🔴⚫️

All the same. I’d pick Millersville just because Lancaster county is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Reddit thinks that anything outside center city Philadelphia or Pittsburgh is rural.

Bloomsburg for Nursing and if you wanna get wasted every other night

West Chester overall for academics and especially networking

Oh please.

Shippensburg is like 30 minutes from Harrisburg and its suburbs and Millersville is like 10 mins outside Lancaster

Wait til you hear about Bloomsburg, Indiana, Mansfield, Clarion, and Lock Haven.

Lancaster is definitely rural lol

58,000 people in a city isn’t exactly what I would call rural.

West Chester is considered the “flagship” campus so probably the most recognized widely even if other schools have stronger programs in some areas. Otherwise some of the schools that tend towards the larger side (at least pre-merger) like Indiana and Kutztown are probably the most prestigious. Unfortunately with the 2 mergers of schools (PennWest from Clarion, Edinboro, and California; Commonwealth from Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield) there will be some loss of name recognition at least in the short term.

Shippensburg. I got my MBA at ship. I thought it was a good program. They almost had a doctorate program business also but COVID killed it.

Or Slippery Rock

Why not ask your future employer what their preferences might be, taking into account what directions in which they are planning to use you.

The only one I know isn’t any good is California in Western, PA. Of course a lot of their issues. Came under Arementi who didn’t seem to care if you got an education, he just wanted the money.

Lancaster county has 552,000 people