Wooster vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Comparable Facts

Compare The College of Wooster in Wooster, OH with Penn State Wilkes Barre in Dallas, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The College of Wooster is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (1,738 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Wooster vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wooster 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 Wooster ($16,621 vs. $28,004).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of Wooster are 5.1% lower than at Penn State Wilkes Barre ($14,490 vs. $15,274).
• The College of Wooster is 331.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $47,360 more per year; $61,640.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 156.8% higher at Wooster than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $37,634 more per year; $61,640.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The College of Wooster than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The College of Wooster students is 389.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($47,672 vs. $9,742).

Wooster vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wooster 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 Wooster.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The College of Wooster (1340) is 130 points higher than at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of Wooster 1220/1460; Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of Wooster 27/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wooster - Test optional; Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wooster Feb 15, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Wooster (59.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.4% at Wooster vs. 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

Wooster vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wooster 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).

• The College of Wooster's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Wilkes Barre earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than Wooster graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $51,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The College of Wooster graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Wooster graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates ($268 vs. $277).
• More Wooster graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Wilkes-Barre students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.