Page 29 - Chester County Chamber - 2019 Guide and Business Directory

University of Valley Forge
to grant degrees. It opened in 1854 for young men of color.
Today it has about 2,000 students and was recently recognized
for the upward mobility of its students by the Equality of Opportunity Project.
Immaculata University opened in the 1920s as the first Catholic college for women in the Philadelphia area. Now a coeducational institution with 2,500 students, Immaculata has 60 majors and 12 graduate specialties. The school’s Mighty Macs women’s basketball team is legendary for its dominance of the sport in the early days of the school’s existence.
University of Valley Forge
Two small colleges also draw students to Chester County. The University of Valley Forge is a Christian College and Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, with about 700 students.
Though based in New Castle, Del., Wilmington University has a wide reach, with campuses in Delaware and New Jersey and a vibrant online enrollment. Wilmington offers career- focused associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees and certificate programs for career changers.
Chester County: Key Economic Stats
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25+ (2012-2016) — 93.0%
Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons age 25+ (2012-2016) — 50.2%
Housing
Housing units (2017) — 200,241
Owner-occupied housing unit rate (2012-2016) — 75.3%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units (2012-2016) — $331,000
Labor Force
Percent of total population (age 16+) in civilian labor force (2012-2016) — 68.8%
Percent of female population (age 16+) in civilian labor force (2012-2016) — 62.5%
Businesses
Total employer establishments (2016) — 14,314
Total employment (2016) — 248,421
Total employment, percent change (2015-2016) — 0.7% All firms (2012) — 48,950
Women-owned firms (2012) — 13,877
Minority-owned firms (2012) — 4,119
Veteran-owned firms (2012) — 4,636
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
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