F&M vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Comparable Facts

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

Franklin and Marshall College is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (1,808 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Franklin and Marshall College is located in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting); Penn State Wilkes Barre is in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Franklin and Marshall 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: Franklin and Marshall College 9:1; Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1.

F&M vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, F&M 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 F&M ($16,621 vs. $43,987).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 5.6% lower than at Franklin and Marshall College ($15,274 vs. $16,188).
• Franklin and Marshall College is 395.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $56,514 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 194.9% higher at F&M than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $46,788 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Wilkes Barre than at Franklin and Marshall College (89% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 330.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($41,901 vs. $9,742).

F&M vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, F&M 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 F&M.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Franklin and Marshall College (1390) is 180 points higher than at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463; Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franklin and Marshall College 30/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: F&M - Test optional; Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: F&M Jan 15, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than F&M (28.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at F&M vs. 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

F&M vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for F&M 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).

• Franklin and Marshall College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from Franklin and Marshall College earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Franklin and Marshall College graduates have a $4,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($22,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, F&M graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($227 vs. $277).
• More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Wilkes-Barre students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.