Duquesne University vs. Wilkes

Should I go to Duquesne University or Wilkes University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Duquesne University 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Duquesne University vs. Wilkes University comparison
Duquesne University Wilkes University College 3 College 4
Duquesne University Wilkes University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Duquesne University Wilkes
Location Pittsburgh, PA Wilkes-Barre, PA
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 8,107 5,207
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #212 #478
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website duq.edu wilkes.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Duquesne University Wilkes
Tuition (In State) $45,376 $39,134
Tuition (Out of State) $45,376 $39,134
Room & Board $14,744 $15,850
Avg Net Price $33,919 $27,918
Avg Grant Aid $26,800 $29,441
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 97%

Admission

Duquesne University Wilkes
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,376 4,798
Admitted 10,828 4,517
Acceptance Rate 87.5% 94.1%
Enrolled % 13.3% 10.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.8 3.56
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/31 21/26
SAT Range 1160/1330 1060/1260
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Duquesne University Wilkes
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (31%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

Duquesne University Wilkes
Graduation Rate 73% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $65,100 $58,200
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $268

Diversity

Duquesne University Wilkes
% Men 36% 31%
% Women 64% 69%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 81% 73%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 3% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 4% 9%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Duquesne University Wilkes
% In-State 74% 75%
% Out-of-State 24% 24%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Duquesne University is larger than than Wilkes based on total student enrollment (8,107 students vs. 5,207 students)

Duquesne University vs. Wilkes Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Duquesne University or Wilkes?

  • Duquesne University is 16% more expensive to attend than Wilkes for in-state tuition ($45,376.00 vs. $39,134.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16% higher at Duquesne University than Wilkes University ($45,376.00 vs. $39,134.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wilkes University than Duquesne University ($27,918 vs. $33,919)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Duquesne University are 7.5% lower than costs at Wilkes University ($14,744 vs. $15,850)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wilkes University than Duquesne University (97% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 9.9% larger than aid received Duquesne University ($29,441 vs. $26,800)

Duquesne University vs. Wilkes Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Duquesne University (1138) is 85 points higher than at Wilkes (1053)
  • Accepted freshman Duquesne University students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Wilkes (3.56)
  • Wilkes has a higher acceptance rate (94.1%) than Duquesne University (87.5%)

Duquesne University vs. Wilkes Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Duquesne University 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 Duquesne University.

  • The graduation rate at Duquesne University is higher than Wilkes University (73% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from Duquesne University earn on average $6,900 more per year than Wilkes graduates after ten years. ($65,100 vs. $58,200)
  • Wilkes University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Duquesne University graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Wilkes graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Duquesne University graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More Duquesne University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wilkes students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 75%)

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