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Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$27,743What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
91%
Graduation rate
62%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
1,985
In-state tuition
$43,496Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$43,496
SAT midpoint
1,145
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$63,454Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$27,743

Better than 28% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

62%

Better than 57% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$63,454

Better than 74% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$26,000

Better than 28% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$56,765

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$27,743

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

What would this cost me?
Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Wilkes University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time62%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return72%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$26,000
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$63,454

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Wilkes University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Computer and Information Sciences, General$83,0415
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$77,226138
Engineering, General$74,654Not reported
Mechanical Engineering$63,06231
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering$60,09812
Accounting and Related Services$53,8189
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$45,85315
Education, General$45,273Not reported
Marketing$42,03810
Finance and Financial Management Services$41,75813
Business Administration, Management and Operations$40,50845
Biology, General$38,51316
Sociology$36,8147
Communication and Media Studies$36,27111
Psychology, General$29,00730
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reported60
Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationNot reported14
CriminologyNot reported11
Political Science and GovernmentNot reported10
Hospitality Administration/ManagementNot reported9
HistoryNot reported9
Neurobiology and NeurosciencesNot reported8
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchNot reported6
English Language and Literature, GeneralNot reported6
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringNot reported5
Information Science/StudiesNot reported4
Special Education and TeachingNot reported3
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported3
ChemistryNot reported3
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported3
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied ProfessionsNot reported2
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesNot reported1
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyNot reported1
International Relations and National Security StudiesNot reported1
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reported1
Engineering-Related FieldsNot reportedNot reported
Entrepreneurial and Small Business OperationsNot reportedNot reported
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, OtherNot reportedNot reported
PhilosophyNot reportedNot reported
Physical Sciences, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
PhysicsNot reportedNot reported
MathematicsNot reportedNot reported

All 42 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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