Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Providence

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Wilkes Barre in Dallas, PA with Providence College in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Providence College is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (4,666 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Wilkes Barre is located in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting); Providence College is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
• Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Providence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1; Providence College 11:1.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Providence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Wilkes-Barre or Providence? 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 Wilkes Barre than Providence ($16,621 vs. $48,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 14.4% lower than at Providence College ($15,274 vs. $17,840).
• Providence College is 345% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $49,270 more per year; $63,550.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 164.7% higher at Providence than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $39,544 more per year; $63,550.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Wilkes Barre than at Providence College (89% vs. 83%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Providence College students is 227.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($31,873 vs. $9,742).

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Providence Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Wilkes-Barre or Providence? 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 Providence and Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Providence College (1320) is 110 points higher than at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330; Providence College 1250/1390.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsProvidence College 29/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional; Providence - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Providence Jan 15, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Providence (50.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. 19.2% at Providence.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Providence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Providence? 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).

• Providence College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from Providence College earn a median of about $12,700 more per year than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Wilkes Barre graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Providence graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Providence graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Providence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Wilkes-Barre students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.