Wilkes vs. SU

Should I go to Wilkes University or Shenandoah University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Wilkes or SU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Wilkes University vs. Shenandoah University comparison
Wilkes University Shenandoah University College 3 College 4
Wilkes University Shenandoah University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Wilkes SU
Location Wilkes-Barre, PA Winchester, VA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 5,207 4,260
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #478 #537
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wilkes.edu su.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wilkes SU
Tuition (In State) $39,134 $33,790
Tuition (Out of State) $39,134 $33,790
Room & Board $15,850 $11,230
Avg Net Price $27,918 $26,143
Avg Grant Aid $29,441 $23,467
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 100%

Admission

Wilkes SU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,798 2,296
Admitted 4,517 1,845
Acceptance Rate 94.1% 80.4%
Enrolled % 10.6% 25.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.56 3.7
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/26 19/26
SAT Range 1060/1260 1010/1230
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Wilkes SU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Health Professions (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

Wilkes SU
Graduation Rate 58% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,200 $48,300
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $258

Diversity

Wilkes SU
% Men 31% 32%
% Women 69% 68%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 73% 59%
% Black 4% 11%
% Hispanic 6% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 9% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 13%

Students

Wilkes SU
% In-State 75% 52%
% Out-of-State 24% 48%

Campus

Wilkes SU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Wilkes University is larger than than SU based on total student enrollment (5,207 students vs. 4,260 students)

Wilkes vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wilkes or SU?

  • Wilkes University is 15.8% more expensive to attend than SU for in-state tuition ($39,134.00 vs. $33,790.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.8% higher at Wilkes than Shenandoah University ($39,134.00 vs. $33,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shenandoah University than Wilkes ($26,143 vs. $27,918)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shenandoah University are 41.1% lower than costs at Wilkes University ($11,230 vs. $15,850)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shenandoah University than Wilkes University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 25.5% larger than aid received Shenandoah University ($29,441 vs. $23,467)

Wilkes vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wilkes or SU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SU or Wilkes .

  • The average SAT score at Wilkes University (1053) is 48 points higher than at SU (1005)
  • Accepted freshman SU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Wilkes (3.56)
  • Wilkes has a higher acceptance rate (94.1%) than SU (80.4%)

Wilkes vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wilkes or SU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SU and Wilkes.

  • The graduation rate at Wilkes is higher than Shenandoah University (58% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Wilkes University earn on average $9,900 more per year than SU graduates after ten years. ($58,200 vs. $48,300)
  • Shenandoah University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Wilkes graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,000)
  • SU graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Wilkes graduates. ($258 vs. $268)
  • More Wilkes graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/