Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Wilkes

Comparable Facts

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

Wilkes University is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (5,381 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Wilkes Barre is located in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting); Wilkes University is in Wilkes-Barre, PA (Small City setting).
• Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wilkes University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1; Wilkes University 13:1.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Wilkes Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Wilkes-Barre or Wilkes? 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 Wilkes ($16,621 vs. $28,511).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 5.5% lower than at Wilkes University ($15,274 vs. $16,166).
• Wilkes University is 204.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $29,216 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 81.2% higher at Wilkes than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $19,490 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wilkes University than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 190.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($28,324 vs. $9,742).

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Wilkes Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Wilkes Barre (1210) is 70 points higher than at Wilkes (1140).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330; Wilkes University 1020/1250.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWilkes University 22/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional; Wilkes - Test optional.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Wilkes (90.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. 9.3% at Wilkes.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre vs. Wilkes Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Wilkes University's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from Wilkes University earn a median of about $2,900 more per year than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,200 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wilkes University graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Wilkes graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Wilkes 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.