Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Villanova

Comparable Facts

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

Villanova University is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (10,041 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Villanova Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Wilkes-Barre or Villanova? 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 Villanova ($16,621 vs. $37,201).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 13.7% lower than at Villanova University ($15,274 vs. $17,694).
• Villanova University is 374.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $53,496 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 182.3% higher at Villanova than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $43,770 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Wilkes Barre than at Villanova University (89% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Villanova University students is 388.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($47,609 vs. $9,742).

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Villanova Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Villanova University (1450) is 240 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; Villanova University 1395/1510.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsVillanova University 32/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional; Villanova - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Villanova Jan 15, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Villanova (27%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. 27.7% at Villanova.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Villanova Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Villanova University's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from Villanova University earn a median of about $29,800 more per year than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,100 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Villanova University graduates have a $321 lower median loan debt than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($26,497 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Villanova graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($273 vs. $277).
• More Villanova graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Wilkes-Barre students, three years after graduation. (90% 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.