Gordon College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Comparable Facts

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

Gordon College is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (1,595 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gordon College is located in Wenham, MA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Wilkes Barre is in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Gordon 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: Gordon College 10:1; Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1.

Gordon College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gordon College 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 Gordon College ($16,621 vs. $25,299).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gordon College are 12.9% lower than at Penn State Wilkes Barre ($13,300 vs. $15,274).
• Gordon College is 115% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $16,420 more per year; $30,700.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.9% higher at Gordon College than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $6,694 more per year; $30,700.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gordon College than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Gordon College students is 72.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($16,802 vs. $9,742).

Gordon College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Gordon College 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 Gordon College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Gordon College (1240) is 30 points higher than at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon College 1130/1355; Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon College 25/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Gordon College - Test optional; Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Gordon College Feb 1, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Gordon College (69.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at Gordon College vs. 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

Gordon College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gordon College 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).

• Gordon College's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Wilkes Barre earn a median of about $10,000 more per year than Gordon College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $45,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Wilkes Barre graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Gordon College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gordon College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Gordon College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Wilkes-Barre students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.