PennWest California vs. Wilkes

Should I go to PennWest California or Wilkes University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if PennWest California or Wilkes is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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PennWest California vs. Wilkes University comparison
PennWest California Wilkes University College 3 College 4
PennWest California Wilkes University
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Overview

PennWest California Wilkes
Location California, PA Wilkes-Barre, PA
Setting Town Fringe Small City
Enrollment 6,509 5,207
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1033 #478
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calu.edu wilkes.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

PennWest California Wilkes
Tuition (In State) $7,716 $39,134
Tuition (Out of State) $11,574 $39,134
Room & Board $10,416 $15,850
Avg Net Price - $27,918
Avg Grant Aid $0 $29,441
% Receiving Grant Aid 0% 97%

Admission

PennWest California Wilkes
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 4,798
Admitted - 4,517
Acceptance Rate 94.1%
Enrolled % 10.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.56
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 21/26
SAT Range 940/1150 1060/1260
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 22, 2025

Academics

PennWest California Wilkes
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

PennWest California Wilkes
Graduation Rate 53% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,500 $58,200
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $268

Diversity

PennWest California Wilkes
% Men 39% 31%
% Women 61% 69%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 73%
% Black 12% 4%
% Hispanic 3% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 9%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

PennWest California Wilkes
% In-State 86% 75%
% Out-of-State 13% 24%

Campus

PennWest California Wilkes
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • PennWest California is larger than than Wilkes based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 5,207 students)

PennWest California vs. Wilkes Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PennWest California or Wilkes?

  • Wilkes University is 407.2% more expensive to attend than PennWest California for in-state tuition ($39,134.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 238.1% higher at Wilkes than PennWest California ($39,134.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 52.2% lower than costs at Wilkes University ($10,416 vs. $15,850)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wilkes University than PennWest California (97% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($29,441 vs. $0)

Which college is harder to get into, PennWest California or Wilkes? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wilkes or PennWest California .

  • The average SAT score at Wilkes University (1053) is 131 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
  • Accepted freshman Wilkes students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at PennWest California (3.31)

PennWest California vs. Wilkes Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PennWest California or Wilkes? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Wilkes and PennWest California.

  • The graduation rate at Wilkes is higher than PennWest California (58% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Wilkes University earn on average $15,700 more per year than PennWest California graduates after ten years. ($58,200 vs. $42,500)
  • PennWest California students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Wilkes graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,000)
  • PennWest California graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Wilkes graduates. ($258 vs. $268)
  • More Wilkes graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PennWest California students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 64%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/