Fairfield University vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Should I go to Fairfield University or Penn State Wilkes Barre? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Fairfield University or Penn State Wilkes-Barre 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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Fairfield University vs. Penn State Wilkes Barre comparison
Fairfield University Penn State Wilkes Barre College 3 College 4
Fairfield University Penn State Wilkes Barre
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Overview

Fairfield University Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Location Fairfield, CT Lehman, PA
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 6,289 353
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #128
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Tuition (In State) $55,510 $13,824
Tuition (Out of State) $55,510 $23,316
Room & Board $17,400 $13,448
Avg Net Price $47,630 $16,275
Avg Grant Aid $25,877 $8,945
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 91%

Admission

Fairfield University Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,463 640
Admitted 6,956 605
Acceptance Rate 45% 94.5%
Enrolled % 20.6% 14.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 29/32
SAT Range 1240/1380 1060/1305
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 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

Fairfield University Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Business (34%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (28%)
  • Engineering Technology (19%)
  • English and Literature (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (5%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Graduation Rate 82% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $279 $277

Diversity

Fairfield University Penn State Wilkes-Barre
% Men 7% 0%
% Women 14% 1%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 88%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 7% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 8% 1%

Students

Fairfield University Penn State Wilkes-Barre
% In-State 15% 83%
% Out-of-State 84% 17%

Campus

Fairfield University Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Fairfield University is larger than than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (6,289 students vs. 353 students)

Fairfield University vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Penn State Wilkes-Barre?

  • Fairfield University is 301.5% more expensive to attend than Penn State Wilkes-Barre for in-state tuition ($55,510.00 vs. $13,824.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 138.1% higher at Fairfield University than Penn State Wilkes Barre ($55,510.00 vs. $23,316.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Wilkes Barre than Fairfield University ($16,275 vs. $47,630)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 29.4% lower than costs at Fairfield University ($13,448 vs. $17,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairfield University than Penn State Wilkes Barre (95% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fairfield University students is 189.3% larger than aid received Penn State Wilkes Barre ($25,877 vs. $8,945)

Fairfield University vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (94.5%) than Fairfield University (45%)

Fairfield University vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fairfield University or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Fairfield University.

  • The graduation rate at Fairfield University is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre (82% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $21,800 more per year than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $55,300)
  • Penn State Wilkes Barre students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
  • Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More Fairfield University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Wilkes-Barre students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 69%)

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