Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. W&J

Comparable Facts

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

Washington & Jefferson College is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (1,309 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. W&J Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Wilkes-Barre or W&J? 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 W&J ($16,621 vs. $22,702).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Washington & Jefferson College are 3.7% lower than at Penn State Wilkes Barre ($14,710 vs. $15,274).
• Washington & Jefferson College is 105.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $15,112 more per year; $29,392.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.4% higher at W&J than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $5,386 more per year; $29,392.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Washington & Jefferson College than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Washington & Jefferson College students is 106.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($20,152 vs. $9,742).

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. W&J Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Wilkes Barre (1210) is 80 points higher than at W&J (1130).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330; Washington & Jefferson College 1010/1250.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWashington & Jefferson College 19/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional; W&J - Test-free.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than W&J (80.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. 12.6% at W&J.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. W&J Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Washington & Jefferson College's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from Washington & Jefferson College earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,900 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 W&J 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 W&J graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More W&J graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Wilkes-Barre students, three years after graduation. (79% 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.