Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Comparable Facts

Compare Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA with Penn State Wilkes Barre in Dallas, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cedar Crest College is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (1,290 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cedar Crest College is located in Allentown, PA (Midsize City setting); Penn State Wilkes Barre is in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Cedar Crest College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cedar Crest College 9:1; Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1.

Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cedar Crest College or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Wilkes Barre than Cedar Crest College ($16,621 vs. $23,691).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cedar Crest College are 12.2% lower than at Penn State Wilkes Barre ($13,406 vs. $15,274).
• Cedar Crest College is 224.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $32,034 more per year; $46,314.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 92.9% higher at Cedar Crest College than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $22,308 more per year; $46,314.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cedar Crest College than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (99% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cedar Crest College students is 242.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($33,323 vs. $9,742).

Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cedar Crest College or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Cedar Crest College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Wilkes Barre (1210) is 90 points higher than at Cedar Crest College (1120).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cedar Crest College 1000/1230; Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cedar Crest College - Test-free; Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Cedar Crest College (84.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.5% at Cedar Crest College vs. 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

Cedar Crest College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cedar Crest College and Penn State Wilkes-Barre? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Cedar Crest College's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Wilkes Barre earn a median of about $7,500 more per year than Cedar Crest College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $47,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Wilkes Barre graduates have a $932 lower median loan debt than Cedar Crest College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,750).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cedar Crest College graduates ($277 vs. $286).
• More Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cedar Crest College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.