Emerson vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Comparable Facts

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

Emerson College is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (5,263 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Emerson College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Penn State Wilkes Barre is in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Emerson 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: Emerson College 14:1; Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1.

Emerson vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson 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 Emerson ($16,621 vs. $53,432).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 27% lower than at Emerson College ($15,274 vs. $20,920).
• Emerson College is 299.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $42,776 more per year; $57,056.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 137.7% higher at Emerson than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $33,050 more per year; $57,056.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Wilkes Barre than at Emerson College (89% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Emerson College students is 177.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($26,997 vs. $9,742).

Emerson vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Emerson 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 Emerson.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Emerson College (1350) is 140 points higher than at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 1270/1420; Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Emerson (51.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

Emerson vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson 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).

• Emerson College's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Wilkes Barre earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Emerson College graduates have a $3,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($23,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Emerson graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($242 vs. $277).
• More Emerson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Wilkes-Barre students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 69%)

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.