Gwynedd Mercy College vs. Wilkes

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

Gwynedd Mercy College Wilkes
Location Gwynedd Valley, PA Wilkes-Barre, PA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 2,091 5,207
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #315 #478
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gmc.edu wilkes.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Gwynedd Mercy College Wilkes
Tuition (In State) $36,052 $39,134
Tuition (Out of State) $36,052 $39,134
Room & Board $13,056 $15,850
Avg Net Price $28,122 $27,918
Avg Grant Aid $24,512 $29,441
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 97%

Admission

Gwynedd Mercy College Wilkes
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,063 4,798
Admitted 621 4,517
Acceptance Rate 58.4% 94.1%
Enrolled % 24.5% 10.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.34 3.56
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/26
SAT Range 1015/1235 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 Aug 20, 2025

Academics

Gwynedd Mercy College Wilkes
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (46%)
  • Business (33%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Biology (2%)
  • Psychology (2%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

Gwynedd Mercy College Wilkes
Graduation Rate 52% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,600 $58,200
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $268

Diversity

Gwynedd Mercy College Wilkes
% Men 27% 31%
% Women 73% 69%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 57% 73%
% Black 23% 4%
% Hispanic 5% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 4%
% International 0% 9%
% Unknown Race 10% 2%

Students

Gwynedd Mercy College Wilkes
% In-State 80% 75%
% Out-of-State 20% 24%

Campus

Gwynedd Mercy College Wilkes
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Wilkes University is larger than than Gwynedd Mercy College based on total student enrollment (5,207 students vs. 2,091 students)

Gwynedd Mercy College vs. Wilkes Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gwynedd Mercy College or Wilkes?

  • Wilkes University is 8.5% more expensive to attend than Gwynedd Mercy College for in-state tuition ($39,134.00 vs. $36,052.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.5% higher at Wilkes than Gwynedd Mercy College ($39,134.00 vs. $36,052.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wilkes University than Gwynedd Mercy College ($27,918 vs. $28,122)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gwynedd Mercy College are 21.4% lower than costs at Wilkes University ($13,056 vs. $15,850)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Gwynedd Mercy College than Wilkes University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 20.1% larger than aid received Gwynedd Mercy College ($29,441 vs. $24,512)

Gwynedd Mercy College vs. Wilkes Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Wilkes University (1053) is 129 points higher than at Gwynedd Mercy College (924)
  • Accepted freshman Wilkes students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Gwynedd Mercy College (3.34)
  • Wilkes has a higher acceptance rate (94.1%) than Gwynedd Mercy College (58.4%)

Gwynedd Mercy College vs. Wilkes Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Gwynedd Mercy College 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 Gwynedd Mercy College.

  • The graduation rate at Wilkes is higher than Gwynedd Mercy College (58% vs. 52%)
  • Graduates from Wilkes University earn on average $1,600 more per year than Gwynedd Mercy College graduates after ten years. ($58,200 vs. $56,600)
  • Gwynedd Mercy College students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Wilkes graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,000)
  • Gwynedd Mercy College graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Wilkes graduates. ($258 vs. $268)
  • More Wilkes graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gwynedd Mercy College students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 63%)

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