Penn State Abington vs. Wilkes

Comparable Facts

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

Wilkes University is larger than Penn State Abington based on total student enrollment (5,381 students vs. 2,885 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Abington is located in Abington, PA (Large Suburban setting); Wilkes University is in Wilkes-Barre, PA (Small City setting).
• Penn State Abington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wilkes University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Abington 14:1; Wilkes University 13:1.

Penn State Abington vs. Wilkes Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Abington or Wilkes? 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 Abington than Wilkes ($19,232 vs. $28,511).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Abington are 10.5% lower than at Wilkes University ($14,474 vs. $16,166).
• Wilkes University is 184.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Abington (about $28,228 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $15,268.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 69.5% higher at Wilkes than at Penn State Abington (about $17,832 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $25,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wilkes University than at Penn State Abington (100% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 186.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Abington students ($28,324 vs. $9,883).

Penn State Abington vs. Wilkes Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Abington or Wilkes? 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 Wilkes and Penn State Abington.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Abington (1170) is 30 points higher than at Wilkes (1140).
• Incoming Penn State Abington students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 25) as students at Wilkes (25).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Abington 1070/1265; Wilkes University 1020/1250.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Abington 23/27; Wilkes University 22/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Abington - Test optional; Wilkes - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Wilkes students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Penn State Abington (3.42).
• Penn State Abington has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than Wilkes (90.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Abington vs. 9.3% at Wilkes.

Penn State Abington vs. Wilkes Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Abington and Wilkes? 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).

• Wilkes University's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Penn State Abington's (44%).
• Graduates from Wilkes University earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than Penn State Abington graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,200 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wilkes University graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Abington graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Wilkes graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Abington graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Wilkes graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Abington students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.