Fitchburg State vs. Wilkes

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

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Fitchburg State University vs. Wilkes University comparison
Fitchburg State University Wilkes University College 3 College 4
Fitchburg State University Wilkes University
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Overview

Fitchburg State Wilkes
Location Fitchburg, MA Wilkes-Barre, PA
Setting Midsize Suburban Small City
Enrollment 6,554 5,207
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #549 #478
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fitchburgstate.edu wilkes.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fitchburg State Wilkes
Tuition (In State) $970 $39,134
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $39,134
Room & Board $13,516 $15,850
Avg Net Price $15,535 $27,918
Avg Grant Aid $7,093 $29,441
% Receiving Grant Aid 76% 97%

Admission

Fitchburg State Wilkes
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,084 4,798
Admitted 2,654 4,517
Acceptance Rate 86.1% 94.1%
Enrolled % 18.3% 10.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.29 3.56
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/28 21/26
SAT Range 1020/1220 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

Academics

Fitchburg State Wilkes
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • General Studies (16%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

Fitchburg State Wilkes
Graduation Rate 47% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,000 $58,200
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,685 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $234 $268

Diversity

Fitchburg State Wilkes
% Men 38% 31%
% Women 62% 69%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 73%
% Black 9% 4%
% Hispanic 11% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 9%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Fitchburg State Wilkes
% In-State 90% 75%
% Out-of-State 10% 24%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Fitchburg State University is larger than than Wilkes based on total student enrollment (6,554 students vs. 5,207 students)

Fitchburg State vs. Wilkes Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fitchburg State or Wilkes?

  • Wilkes University is 3,934.4% more expensive to attend than Fitchburg State for in-state tuition ($39,134.00 vs. $970.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 455.1% higher at Wilkes than Fitchburg State University ($39,134.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fitchburg State University than Wilkes ($15,535 vs. $27,918)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fitchburg State University are 17.3% lower than costs at Wilkes University ($13,516 vs. $15,850)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wilkes University than Fitchburg State University (97% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 315.1% larger than aid received Fitchburg State University ($29,441 vs. $7,093)

Fitchburg State vs. Wilkes Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Wilkes University (1053) is 60 points higher than at Fitchburg State (993)
  • Accepted freshman Wilkes students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Fitchburg State (3.29)
  • Wilkes has a higher acceptance rate (94.1%) than Fitchburg State (86.1%)

Fitchburg State vs. Wilkes Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fitchburg State 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 Fitchburg State.

  • The graduation rate at Wilkes is higher than Fitchburg State University (58% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from Wilkes University earn on average $14,200 more per year than Fitchburg State graduates after ten years. ($58,200 vs. $44,000)
  • Fitchburg State University students graduate with a $3,315 lower median federal student loan debt than Wilkes graduates. ($22,685 vs. $26,000)
  • Fitchburg State graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than Wilkes graduates. ($234 vs. $268)
  • More Wilkes graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fitchburg State students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 65%)

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