Kent State vs. Wilkes

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

Kent State Wilkes
Location Kent, OH Wilkes-Barre, PA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 25,854 5,207
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #839 #478
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website kent.edu wilkes.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Kent State Wilkes
Tuition (In State) $12,304 $39,134
Tuition (Out of State) $21,410 $39,134
Room & Board $12,676 $15,850
Avg Net Price $19,046 $27,918
Avg Grant Aid $9,539 $29,441
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 97%

Admission

Kent State Wilkes
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 20,369 4,798
Admitted 17,929 4,517
Acceptance Rate 88% 94.1%
Enrolled % 23.9% 10.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.56
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/25 21/26
SAT Range 990/1220 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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Kent State Wilkes
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

Kent State Wilkes
Graduation Rate 50% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,300 $58,200
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,825 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $267 $268

Diversity

Kent State Wilkes
% Men 37% 31%
% Women 63% 69%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 75% 73%
% Black 9% 4%
% Hispanic 3% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 6% 9%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Kent State Wilkes
% In-State 80% 75%
% Out-of-State 18% 24%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Kent State University at Kent is larger than than Wilkes based on total student enrollment (25,854 students vs. 5,207 students)

Kent State vs. Wilkes Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kent State or Wilkes?

  • Wilkes University is 218.1% more expensive to attend than Kent State for in-state tuition ($39,134.00 vs. $12,304.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 82.8% higher at Wilkes than Kent State University at Kent ($39,134.00 vs. $21,410.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kent State University at Kent than Wilkes ($19,046 vs. $27,918)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kent State University at Kent are 25% lower than costs at Wilkes University ($12,676 vs. $15,850)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wilkes University than Kent State University at Kent (97% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 208.6% larger than aid received Kent State University at Kent ($29,441 vs. $9,539)

Kent State vs. Wilkes Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Kent State University at Kent (1067) is 14 points higher than at Wilkes (1053)
  • Accepted freshman Kent State students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at Wilkes (3.56)
  • Wilkes has a higher acceptance rate (94.1%) than Kent State (88%)

Kent State vs. Wilkes Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Kent 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 Kent State.

  • The graduation rate at Wilkes is higher than Kent State University at Kent (58% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Wilkes University earn on average $17,900 more per year than Kent State graduates after ten years. ($58,200 vs. $40,300)
  • Kent State University at Kent students graduate with a $175 lower median federal student loan debt than Wilkes graduates. ($25,825 vs. $26,000)
  • Kent State graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than Wilkes graduates. ($267 vs. $268)
  • More Wilkes graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kent State students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 46%)

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