University at Albany- SUNY vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Comparable Facts

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

University at Albany is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (17,560 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University at Albany is located in Albany, NY (Small City setting); Penn State Wilkes Barre is in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• University at Albany is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University at Albany 16:1; Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1.

University at Albany- SUNY vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University at Albany- SUNY or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 University at Albany- SUNY ($16,621 vs. $17,949).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 7% lower than at University at Albany ($15,274 vs. $16,423).
• Penn State Wilkes Barre is 31.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than University at Albany- SUNY (about $3,414 more per year; $14,280.00 vs. $10,866.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30.2% higher at University at Albany- SUNY than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $7,250 more per year; $31,256.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Albany than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (96% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University at Albany students is 15.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($11,210 vs. $9,742).

University at Albany- SUNY vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University at Albany (1220) is 10 points higher than at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Albany 1120/1320; Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Albany 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University at Albany- SUNY - Test optional; Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: University at Albany- SUNY Feb 1, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than University at Albany- SUNY (69.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.6% at University at Albany- SUNY vs. 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

University at Albany- SUNY vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University at Albany- SUNY and Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 at Albany's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from University at Albany earn a median of about $500 more per year than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,800 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Albany graduates have a $5,753 lower median loan debt than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($21,065 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, University at Albany- SUNY graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($217 vs. $277).
• More University at Albany- SUNY graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Wilkes-Barre students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.