Wilkes vs. URI

Deciding between Wilkes University and University of Rhode Island? 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.

Wilkes University
University of Rhode Island

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wilkes Wilkes-Barre, PA
  • URI Kingston, RI
  • Setting
  • Wilkes Small City
  • URI Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Wilkes 5,381
  • URI 17,210
  • Type
  • Wilkes Private 4 Year
  • URI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wilkes #414
  • URI #425
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wilkes -
  • URI -
  • Status
  • Wilkes Non-profit
  • URI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wilkes
  • URI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wilkes $43,496
  • URI $16,942
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wilkes $43,496
  • URI $37,146
  • Room & Board
  • Wilkes $16,166
  • URI $15,607
  • Average Net Price
  • Wilkes $28,511
  • URI $24,118
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wilkes $28,324
  • URI $12,578
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wilkes 100%
  • URI 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wilkes 7,660
  • URI 26,987
  • Admitted
  • Wilkes 6,943
  • URI 19,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wilkes 90.6%
  • URI 72.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Wilkes 9.3%
  • URI 15.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wilkes 1140
  • URI 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wilkes 25
  • URI
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wilkes 3.56
  • URI 3.58
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wilkes A-
  • URI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wilkes Challenging
  • URI Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wilkes
  • URI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Wilkes 22/29
  • URI
  • SAT Range
  • Wilkes 1020/1250
  • URI 1020/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wilkes Test optional
  • URI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Wilkes
  • URI Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wilkes 13:1
  • URI 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wilkes
    • Business (18%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • URI
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wilkes 58%
  • URI 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wilkes $58,200
  • URI $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wilkes 75%
  • URI 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wilkes $26,000
  • URI $23,438
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wilkes $268
  • URI $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wilkes 32%
  • URI 41%
  • % Women
  • Wilkes 68%
  • URI 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wilkes Low
  • URI Low
  • HBCU
  • Wilkes No
  • URI No
  • % White
  • Wilkes 73%
  • URI 71%
  • % Asian
  • Wilkes 3%
  • URI 3%
  • % Black
  • Wilkes 4%
  • URI 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wilkes 6%
  • URI 9%
  • % Native American
  • Wilkes 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wilkes 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wilkes 4%
  • URI 3%
  • % International
  • Wilkes 9%
  • URI 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wilkes 2%
  • URI 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wilkes 65%
  • URI 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wilkes 20%
  • URI 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, PA with University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Rhode Island is larger than Wilkes based on total student enrollment (17,210 students vs. 5,381 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Wilkes vs. URI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wilkes or URI? 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 University of Rhode Island than Wilkes ($24,118 vs. $28,511).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Rhode Island are 3.5% lower than at Wilkes University ($15,607 vs. $16,166).
  • Wilkes University is 156.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than URI (about $26,554 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $16,942.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.1% higher at Wilkes than at University of Rhode Island (about $6,350 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $37,146.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wilkes University than at University of Rhode Island (100% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 125.2% larger than aid received by University of Rhode Island students ($28,324 vs. $12,578).

Wilkes vs. URI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wilkes or URI? 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 URI and Wilkes.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Rhode Island (1150) is 10 points higher than at Wilkes (1140).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wilkes University 1020/1250; University of Rhode Island 1020/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wilkes University 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wilkes - Test optional; URI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: URI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman URI students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at Wilkes (3.56).
  • Wilkes has a higher acceptance rate (90.6%) than URI (72.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at Wilkes vs. 15.4% at URI.

Wilkes vs. URI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wilkes and URI? 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 of Rhode Island's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Wilkes University's (58%).
  • Graduates from Wilkes University earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than URI graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,200 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Rhode Island graduates have a $2,562 lower median loan debt than Wilkes graduates ($23,438 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, URI graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wilkes graduates ($242 vs. $268).
  • More Wilkes graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former URI students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.