Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Penn

Comparable Facts

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

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Wilkes Barre is located in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Wilkes-Barre or Penn? 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 Penn ($16,621 vs. $23,570).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 20.3% lower than at University of Pennsylvania ($15,274 vs. $19,174).
• University of Pennsylvania is 381% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $54,406 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 186.1% higher at Penn than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $44,680 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Wilkes Barre than at University of Pennsylvania (89% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 571.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($65,458 vs. $9,742).

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Penn Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pennsylvania (1540) is 330 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; University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Pennsylvania 34/36.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional; Penn - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Penn Jan 5, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Penn (5.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. 68% at Penn.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $68,300 more per year than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $6,185 lower median loan debt than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($20,633 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Penn graduates have an estimated $64 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($213 vs. $277).
• More Penn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Wilkes-Barre students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.