Youngstown State vs. Wilkes

Deciding between Youngstown 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.

Youngstown State University
Wilkes University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Youngstown State Youngstown, OH
  • Wilkes Wilkes-Barre, PA
  • Setting
  • Youngstown State Small City
  • Wilkes Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Youngstown State 12,204
  • Wilkes 5,381
  • Type
  • Youngstown State Public 4 Year
  • Wilkes Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Youngstown State #976
  • Wilkes #414
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Youngstown State -
  • Wilkes -
  • Status
  • Youngstown State Non-profit
  • Wilkes Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Youngstown State
  • Wilkes
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Youngstown State $11,113
  • Wilkes $43,496
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Youngstown State $11,473
  • Wilkes $43,496
  • Room & Board
  • Youngstown State $11,730
  • Wilkes $16,166
  • Average Net Price
  • Youngstown State $12,757
  • Wilkes $28,511
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Youngstown State $8,420
  • Wilkes $28,324
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Youngstown State 91%
  • Wilkes 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Youngstown State 7,368
  • Wilkes 7,660
  • Admitted
  • Youngstown State 6,222
  • Wilkes 6,943
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Youngstown State 84.4% Open
  • Wilkes 90.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Youngstown State 29.4% Open
  • Wilkes 9.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Youngstown State 1120
  • Wilkes 1140
  • Typical ACT score
  • Youngstown State 22
  • Wilkes 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Youngstown State 3.51
  • Wilkes 3.56
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Youngstown State A-
  • Wilkes A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Youngstown State Moderate
  • Wilkes Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Youngstown State
  • Wilkes
  • ACT Range
  • Youngstown State 19/25
  • Wilkes 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • Youngstown State 1010/1230
  • Wilkes 1020/1250
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Youngstown State Open admission
  • Wilkes Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Youngstown State Aug 1, 2027
  • Wilkes
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Youngstown State 20:1
  • Wilkes 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Youngstown State
    • Business (18%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Wilkes
    • Business (18%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Youngstown State 35%
  • Wilkes 58%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Youngstown State $37,700
  • Wilkes $58,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Youngstown State 36%
  • Wilkes 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Youngstown State $27,000
  • Wilkes $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Youngstown State $279
  • Wilkes $268
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Youngstown State 43%
  • Wilkes 32%
  • % Women
  • Youngstown State 57%
  • Wilkes 68%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Youngstown State Low
  • Wilkes Low
  • HBCU
  • Youngstown State No
  • Wilkes No
  • % White
  • Youngstown State 76%
  • Wilkes 73%
  • % Asian
  • Youngstown State 1%
  • Wilkes 3%
  • % Black
  • Youngstown State 11%
  • Wilkes 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Youngstown State 4%
  • Wilkes 6%
  • % Native American
  • Youngstown State 0%
  • Wilkes 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Youngstown State 0%
  • Wilkes 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Youngstown State 3%
  • Wilkes 4%
  • % International
  • Youngstown State 1%
  • Wilkes 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Youngstown State 4%
  • Wilkes 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Youngstown State 63%
  • Wilkes 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Youngstown State 11%
  • Wilkes 20%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Youngstown State University in Youngstown, OH with Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Youngstown State University is larger than Wilkes based on total student enrollment (12,204 students vs. 5,381 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Youngstown State University is located in Youngstown, OH (Small City setting); Wilkes University is in Wilkes-Barre, PA (Small City setting).
  • Youngstown State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wilkes University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Youngstown State University 20:1; Wilkes University 13:1.

Youngstown State vs. Wilkes Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Youngstown State 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 Youngstown State University than Wilkes ($12,757 vs. $28,511).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Youngstown State University are 27.4% lower than at Wilkes University ($11,730 vs. $16,166).
  • Wilkes University is 291.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Youngstown State (about $32,383 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $11,113.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 279.1% higher at Wilkes than at Youngstown State University (about $32,023 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $11,473.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wilkes University than at Youngstown State University (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 236.4% larger than aid received by Youngstown State University students ($28,324 vs. $8,420).

Youngstown State vs. Wilkes Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Youngstown State 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 Youngstown State.

  • Youngstown State University reports an open admissions policy.
  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wilkes University (1140) is 20 points higher than at Youngstown State (1120).
  • Incoming Wilkes students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 22 at Youngstown State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Youngstown State University 1010/1230; Wilkes University 1020/1250.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Youngstown State University 19/25; Wilkes University 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Youngstown State - Open admission; Wilkes - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Youngstown State Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wilkes students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Youngstown State (3.51).
  • Wilkes has a higher acceptance rate (90.6%) than Youngstown State (84.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.4% at Youngstown State vs. 9.3% at Wilkes.

Youngstown State vs. Wilkes Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Youngstown State 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).

  • Wilkes University's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Youngstown State University's (35%).
  • Graduates from Wilkes University earn a median of about $20,500 more per year than Youngstown State graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,200 vs. $37,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wilkes University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Youngstown State graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Wilkes graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Youngstown State graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More Wilkes graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Youngstown State students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 36%)

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.