Union College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Comparable Facts

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

Union College is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (2,065 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Union College is located in Schenectady, NY (Small City setting); Penn State Wilkes Barre is in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Union College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Union College 9:1; Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1.

Union College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Union College 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 Union College ($16,621 vs. $42,137).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 10.2% lower than at Union College ($15,274 vs. $17,010).
• Union College is 383.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Wilkes-Barre (about $54,759 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $14,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 187.6% higher at Union College than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $45,033 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Union College than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (96% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Union College students is 336.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($42,534 vs. $9,742).

Union College vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Union College 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 Union College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Union College (1400) is 190 points higher than at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Union College 1310/1480; Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Union College 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Union College - Test optional; Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Union College Jan 15, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than Union College (43.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Union College vs. 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

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

How do outcomes compare for Union College 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).

• Union College's six-year graduation rate (86%) is higher than Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from Union College earn a median of about $18,900 more per year than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,200 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 Union 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 Union College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Union College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Wilkes-Barre students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.