Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Pitt

Comparable Facts

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

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (35,724 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
• Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Pitt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Wilkes-Barre or Pitt? 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 Pitt ($16,621 vs. $25,223).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus are 10.8% lower than at Penn State Wilkes Barre ($13,620 vs. $15,274).
• University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is 53.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $7,646 more per year; $21,926.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 72.6% higher at Pitt than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $17,424 more per year; $41,430.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Wilkes Barre than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (89% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students is 69.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($16,494 vs. $9,742).

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Pitt Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (1370) is 160 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional; Pitt - Test optional.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Pitt (58.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. 13% at Pitt.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Pitt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Pitt? 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Wilkes Barre graduates have a $91 lower median loan debt than Pitt graduates ($26,818 vs. $26,909).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitt graduates ($277 vs. $278).
• More Pitt graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Wilkes-Barre 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.