Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Westminster College

Comparable Facts

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

Westminster College is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (1,191 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Wilkes Barre is located in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting); Westminster College is in New Wilmington, PA (Town Fringe setting).
• Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Westminster College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1; Westminster College 12:1.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Westminster College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Wilkes-Barre or Westminster College? 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 Westminster College ($16,621 vs. $20,394).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Westminster College are 15.7% lower than at Penn State Wilkes Barre ($12,880 vs. $15,274).
• Westminster College is 182.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $26,010 more per year; $40,290.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 67.8% higher at Westminster College than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $16,284 more per year; $40,290.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Westminster College than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Westminster College students is 234.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($32,553 vs. $9,742).

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Westminster College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Wilkes Barre (1210) is 60 points higher than at Westminster College (1150).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330; Westminster College 1040/1258.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWestminster College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional; Westminster College - Test-free.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Westminster College (92.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. 12.1% at Westminster College.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Westminster College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Westminster College's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Wilkes Barre earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than Westminster College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $45,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Wilkes Barre graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Westminster College 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 Westminster College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Westminster College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Wilkes-Barre students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.