Kean vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Comparable Facts

Compare Kean University in Union, NJ with Penn State Wilkes Barre in Dallas, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Kean University is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (13,905 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Kean University is located in Union, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Wilkes Barre is in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Kean University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Kean University 17:1; Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1.

Kean vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kean 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 Kean University than Penn State Wilkes-Barre ($12,708 vs. $16,621).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 16.4% lower than at Kean University ($15,274 vs. $18,264).
• Kean University is 0.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $19 more per year; $14,299.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7% higher at Penn State Wilkes-Barre than at Kean University (about $1,560 more per year; $24,006.00 vs. $22,446.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kean University than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (90% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Kean University students is 54.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($15,048 vs. $9,742).

Kean vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kean 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 Kean.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Wilkes Barre (1210) is 170 points higher than at Kean (1040).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kean University 930/1150; Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kean - Test optional; Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Kean Aug 15, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Kean (75.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.7% at Kean vs. 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

Kean vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kean 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).

• Kean University's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Wilkes Barre earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than Kean graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Kean University graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Kean graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($258 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kean students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 52%)

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.