With many universities across the state struggling with falling enrollment numbers, West Chester University is experiencing quite the opposite, partly due to its comparatively low overall cost, writes Bill Schackner for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

At $17,789 a year for tuition, room, board and all other fees, West Chester University is the cheapest of the State System schools.

What makes this particularly unusual is that with enrollment up 15 percent over the last five years, many institutions would be looking to capitalize on this popularity by raising rates.

In fact, West Chester University’s rates are almost $3,000 below the system average and lower than areas with cheaper living costs than West Chester. By comparison, Mansfield University in the less expensive rural north central region is the most expensive at $23,964.

However, by charging higher rates, Mansfield is losing students with enrollment numbers down 30 percent since 2010. This also highlights the around $6,000 gap between the most and least expensive State System campuses.

When queried about the disparity in pricing, State System officials pointed out that fees are set by the universities and often reflect the level of investment in their residential complexes, recreational facilities and other amenities.

“There is a range in the fees. There is a wide range of room rates,” said Kenn Marshall, State System spokesman. “These are university decisions.”

Read more about State System fees at Pittsburgh Post-Gazette here, and check out previous VISTA Today coverage of West Chester University here.