Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. Wilkes

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Greater Allegheny in McKeesport, 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 Greater Allegheny based on total student enrollment (5,381 students vs. 352 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Greater Allegheny is located in McKeesport, PA (Large Suburban setting); Wilkes University is in Wilkes-Barre, PA (Small City setting).
• Penn State Greater Allegheny is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wilkes University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Greater Allegheny 9:1; Wilkes University 13:1.

Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. Wilkes Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny than Wilkes ($15,574 vs. $28,511).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Greater Allegheny are 10.5% lower than at Wilkes University ($14,474 vs. $16,166).
• Wilkes University is 201.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Greater Allegheny (about $29,088 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 80.2% higher at Wilkes than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (about $19,362 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wilkes University than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (100% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 154.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Greater Allegheny students ($28,324 vs. $11,121).

Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. Wilkes Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Greater Allegheny (1180) is 40 points higher than at Wilkes (1140).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Greater Allegheny 1080/1280; Wilkes University 1020/1250.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWilkes University 22/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Greater Allegheny - Test optional; Wilkes - Test optional.
• Penn State Greater Allegheny has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than Wilkes (90.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.5% at Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. 9.3% at Wilkes.

Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. Wilkes Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny's (47%).
• Graduates from Wilkes University earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Wilkes graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Wilkes graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Greater Allegheny 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.