Westfield State University vs. Wilkes

Deciding between Westfield State University and Wilkes University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Westfield State University
Wilkes University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Westfield State University Westfield, MA
  • Wilkes Wilkes-Barre, PA
  • Setting
  • Westfield State University Large Suburban
  • Wilkes Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Westfield State University 4,588
  • Wilkes 5,381
  • Type
  • Westfield State University Public 4 Year
  • Wilkes Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Westfield State University #602
  • Wilkes #414
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Westfield State University -
  • Wilkes -
  • Status
  • Westfield State University Non-profit
  • Wilkes Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Westfield State University
  • Wilkes
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Westfield State University $12,179
  • Wilkes $43,496
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Westfield State University $18,259
  • Wilkes $43,496
  • Room & Board
  • Westfield State University $14,018
  • Wilkes $16,166
  • Average Net Price
  • Westfield State University $17,406
  • Wilkes $28,511
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Westfield State University $9,054
  • Wilkes $28,324
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Westfield State University 91%
  • Wilkes 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Westfield State University 6,816
  • Wilkes 7,660
  • Admitted
  • Westfield State University 5,549
  • Wilkes 6,943
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Westfield State University 81.4%
  • Wilkes 90.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Westfield State University 15.2%
  • Wilkes 9.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Westfield State University 1090
  • Wilkes 1140
  • Typical ACT score
  • Westfield State University 19
  • Wilkes 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Westfield State University 3.3
  • Wilkes 3.56
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Westfield State University B+
  • Wilkes A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Westfield State University Very Easy
  • Wilkes Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Westfield State University
  • Wilkes
  • ACT Range
  • Westfield State University 17/22
  • Wilkes 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • Westfield State University 980/1190
  • Wilkes 1020/1250
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Westfield State University Test optional
  • Wilkes Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Westfield State University Mar 1, 2027
  • Wilkes
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Westfield State University 17:1
  • Wilkes 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Westfield State University
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Wilkes
    • Business (18%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Westfield State University 58%
  • Wilkes 58%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Westfield State University $46,800
  • Wilkes $58,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Westfield State University 73%
  • Wilkes 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Westfield State University $22,750
  • Wilkes $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Westfield State University $235
  • Wilkes $268
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Westfield State University 42%
  • Wilkes 32%
  • % Women
  • Westfield State University 58%
  • Wilkes 68%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Westfield State University Low
  • Wilkes Low
  • HBCU
  • Westfield State University No
  • Wilkes No
  • % White
  • Westfield State University 77%
  • Wilkes 73%
  • % Asian
  • Westfield State University 2%
  • Wilkes 3%
  • % Black
  • Westfield State University 4%
  • Wilkes 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Westfield State University 9%
  • Wilkes 6%
  • % Native American
  • Westfield State University 0%
  • Wilkes 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Westfield State University 0%
  • Wilkes 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Westfield State University 4%
  • Wilkes 4%
  • % International
  • Westfield State University 0%
  • Wilkes 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Westfield State University 3%
  • Wilkes 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Westfield State University 88%
  • Wilkes 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Westfield State University 11%
  • Wilkes 20%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Westfield State University Yes
  • Wilkes Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Westfield State University No
  • Wilkes No
  • Meal Plan
  • Westfield State University Yes
  • Wilkes Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Westfield State University Yes
  • Wilkes Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Westfield State University No
  • Wilkes No

Comparable Facts

Compare Westfield State University in Westfield, MA 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 Westfield State University based on total student enrollment (5,381 students vs. 4,588 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Westfield State University is located in Westfield, MA (Large Suburban setting); Wilkes University is in Wilkes-Barre, PA (Small City setting).
  • Westfield State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wilkes University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Westfield State University 17:1; Wilkes University 13:1.

Westfield State University vs. Wilkes Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Westfield State University 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 Westfield State University than Wilkes ($17,406 vs. $28,511).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Westfield State University are 13.3% lower than at Wilkes University ($14,018 vs. $16,166).
  • Wilkes University is 257.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Westfield State University (about $31,317 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $12,179.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 138.2% higher at Wilkes than at Westfield State University (about $25,237 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $18,259.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wilkes University than at Westfield State University (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 212.8% larger than aid received by Westfield State University students ($28,324 vs. $9,054).

Westfield State University vs. Wilkes Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Westfield State University 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 Westfield State University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wilkes University (1140) is 50 points higher than at Westfield State University (1090).
  • Incoming Wilkes students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 19 at Westfield State University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Westfield State University 980/1190; Wilkes University 1020/1250.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Westfield State University 17/22; Wilkes University 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Westfield State University - Test optional; Wilkes - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Westfield State University Mar 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wilkes students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Westfield State University (3.3).
  • Wilkes has a higher acceptance rate (90.6%) than Westfield State University (81.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.2% at Westfield State University vs. 9.3% at Wilkes.

Westfield State University vs. Wilkes Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Westfield State University 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).

  • The graduation rate at Westfield State University is the same as at Wilkes University (58% vs. 58%).
  • Graduates from Wilkes University earn a median of about $11,400 more per year than Westfield State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,200 vs. $46,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Westfield State University graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than Wilkes graduates ($22,750 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Westfield State University graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wilkes graduates ($235 vs. $268).
  • More Wilkes graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Westfield State University students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 73%)

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.