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Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus PennWest Clarion Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Marywood Penn State Schuylkill YCP Robert Morris University Widener University-Main Campus Misericordia University Lycoming College Concord University DeSales University| PennWest California | Wilkes University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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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 | ||
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| 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 | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 13:1 | ||
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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/