Wilkes University (Wilkes)
Private nonprofit four-year university in Wilkes-Barre, PA that costs an average of $25,799 a year after financial aid, admits 91% of applicants and graduates 59% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$25,799
Acceptance rate
91%
Graduation rate
59%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$75,038
Private nonprofitSmall city1,985 undergraduates
Cost of Wilkes
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $57,565 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $44,742 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $16,650 |
| Books and supplies | $400 |
| Average net price after aid | $25,799 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $24,537 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $30,852 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $30,358 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $30,851 |
| $110,001+ | $32,383 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Get your own estimate with Wilkes's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 91% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,136 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 530–630 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 490–620 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 22–29 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 59% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 72% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $62,214 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $75,038 |
| Rank in Pennsylvania (earnings) | 21st of 113 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $26,682 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $303 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 37% |
| Students with federal loans | 71% |
Majors and programs at Wilkes
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (46)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 218 | $92,113 | $20,281 |
| Engineering | — | $77,164 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 55 | $69,935 | $27,000 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 17 | $66,868 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | 13 | $57,357 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 30 | $51,290 | $26,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 50 | $46,826 | $27,000 |
| Education | — | $46,664 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 86 | $43,644 | $27,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 20 | $39,923 | — |
| Biology | 36 | $38,582 | $27,000 |
| English Language and Literature | 14 | $38,095 | — |
| Sociology | 10 | $36,267 | — |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | — | $32,546 | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 3 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 7 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | 2 | — | — |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 2 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 12 | — | — |
| Criminology | 24 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | — | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 9 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 15 | — | — |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 2 | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 1 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 7 | — | — |
| History | 15 | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 15 | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 4 | — | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 117 | — | — |
| Marketing | 21 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 1 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 1 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 11 | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 25 | — | — |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | — | — | — |
| Philosophy | — | — | — |
| Physical Sciences | — | — | — |
| Physics | — | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 18 | — | — |
| Psychology | 71 | — | $27,000 |
| Public Administration | 1 | — | — |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 27 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 7 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 3 | — | — |
Certificate programs (3)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geography and Cartography | — | — | — |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 2 | — | — |
| Sustainability Studies | 12 | — | — |
Master's degree programs (18)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 585 | $114,556 | $43,904 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 95 | $93,502 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 89 | $78,876 | $27,402 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 103 | $67,443 | $41,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 51 | $63,562 | $20,627 |
| Education | — | $62,468 | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 37 | $62,352 | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 7 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 51 | — | — |
| Education, Other | 37 | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 201 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | — | — | — |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 6 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | 4 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 6 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 12 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 343 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (4)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 6 | $127,191 | $34,690 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | — | $85,325 | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 64 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | — | — |
Professional degree programs (2)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 134 | $109,959 | $66,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 41 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (2)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | $134,085 | $22,229 |
| Geography and Cartography | — | — | — |
Similar colleges in Pennsylvania
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Salle University | Philadelphia | $19,758 | 97% | $71,235 |
| Moravian University | Bethlehem | $35,264 | 54% | $66,967 |
| Arcadia University | Glenside | $25,397 | 80% | $62,618 |
| Gettysburg College | Gettysburg | $33,015 | 39% | $80,119 |
| Elizabethtown College | Elizabethtown | $25,682 | 78% | $66,572 |
| DeSales University | Center Valley | $29,183 | 77% | $69,129 |
| Alvernia University | Reading | $27,122 | 58% | $60,651 |
| Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove | $28,585 | 81% | $67,676 |
About Wilkes
| Type | Private nonprofit four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Wilkes-Barre, PA |
| Setting | Small city |
| Undergraduates | 1,985 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 13 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Website | wilkes.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is Wilkes's acceptance rate?
Wilkes University admits 91% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,136 on the SAT.
How much does Wilkes cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $57,565 a year (tuition and fees: $44,742). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $25,799 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $24,537.
How much do Wilkes graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $75,038 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 21st of 113 similar colleges in Pennsylvania. The best-paid bachelor's program is registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing ($92,113 a year after graduation).
What is Wilkes's graduation rate?
59% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 72% of first-year students return for a second year.