Wilkes University
#2 Best Online Education Programs in Pennsylvania- Graduation Rate
- 62% C+
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $63,454 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $27,743 D
- 62% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 91% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 13.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.9 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Online Education Programs in Pennsylvania.
Every $1 spent returns $13.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,426,040.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduates earn 56% more than the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 2.88% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $13.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Wilkes University Matters
Wilkes University is a private doctoral / professional university in Wilkes-Barre, PA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 1,985
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Engineering, Humanities
Why students choose Wilkes University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 91% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1020–1250. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $27,743 a year after grants and scholarships — 62% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $63,454 ten years after enrolling — 56% above the typical college, against $26,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 12% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.70 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of 91%, Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, PA, is a welcoming option for students who may be looking for a supportive environment. It’s particularly suited for those interested in fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Engineering, and Biology & Biomedical. The diverse array of programs means that students can find a niche that resonates with their interests and career goals.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $63,454 after ten years, which can be an encouraging figure when considering return on investment. This income level suggests that graduates are able to secure solid positions in their chosen fields. Additionally, understanding affordability is crucial; Wilkes offers a relatively manageable net price of $27,743, making it accessible for a broad range of students.
When it comes to finances, the median debt stands at $26,000, which is an important consideration for anyone thinking about the long-term impact of student loans. Students who thrive here tend to be those who are proactive and engaged, taking full advantage of the supportive community and resources available. With a Pell Grant rate of 34%, there are opportunities for need-based aid, helping to ease the financial burden for eligible students.
Rankings
- #2 Best Online Education Programs in Pennsylvania
- #3 Best Online Business Programs in Pennsylvania
- #4 Best Online Computer Science Programs in Pennsylvania
- #4 Best Online Nursing Programs in Pennsylvania
- #11 Best Online Bachelor's in Physical Sciences
- #11 Best Online Bachelor's in Environmental Science
- #11 Best Online Master's in Physical Sciences
- #11 Best Online Master's in Environmental Science
Can I Get In?
How selective Wilkes University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Wilkes University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Wilkes University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 91%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,136. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Retention Rate
- 72%
- SAT Average
- 1136
- ACT Midpoint
- 24
- SAT Range
- 1020–1250
- ACT Range
- 22–29
- Full-Time Faculty
- 39%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,848
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.53
- First-Gen Students
- 35%
- Applicants
- 4,798
- Admitted
- 4,517
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · unknown
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Wilkes University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 7% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 7%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 6%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 100%
- of enrolled freshmen
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Wilkes University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wilkes University is $43,496, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $27,743. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $25,062 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $43,496
- Out-of-State
- $43,496
- Avg Net Price
- $27,743
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 34%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 72%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $25,062
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $23,440
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $26,432
- Family Income $110K+
- $31,638
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Wilkes University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Wilkes University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wilkes University earn a median of $63,454, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $54,128
- 8 Years
- $64,570
- 10 Years
- $63,454
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.41x
- Earning > $25K
- 74%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (293)
- 53%
- 100% (293)
- 53%
- 100% (293)
- 53%
- 100% (293)
- 53%
How Wilkes Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Wilkes University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Wilkes University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $27,743/year ($110,972 total). Graduates earn $63,454 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,537,012 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,426,040 (13.9× your investment). The median debt is $26,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 62% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $110,972
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,537,012
- Net Return
- $1,426,040
- ROI Multiple
- 13.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $27,743
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 62%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Wilkes University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Wilkes University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.88%, among the highest in the country. About 6.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 44.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $80,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.88%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 44.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $108,828
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $8,559,947
- Investment Income
- $-4,255,935
Top Programs
The fields Wilkes University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 24% $60,427 early-career
- Health Professions 16% $77,274 early-career
- Engineering 10% $64,143 early-career
- Humanities 9% $23,930 early-career
- Education 8% $41,561 early-career
- Psychology 7% $34,410 early-career
- Communications 6% $38,487 early-career
- Social Sciences 6% $36,879 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Wilkes University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Wilkes University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Wilkes University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 91%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,136. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Wilkes University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wilkes University is $43,496, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $27,743. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $25,062 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
Is Wilkes University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wilkes University earn a median of $63,454, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Wilkes University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Wilkes University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.88%, among the highest in the country. About 6.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 44.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $80,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Wilkes University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Wilkes University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.70, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Wilkes University offer Early Decision?
No. Wilkes University does not report a binding Early Decision plan (unknown Common Data Set).
Is Wilkes University really test-optional?
Wilkes University reports test-optional admission, but most enrolled students still submit scores: about 1% of first-year students sent an SAT or ACT (unknown Common Data Set). Submitting strong scores is the norm here.
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Wilkes University?
About 7% of admitted students choose to enroll at Wilkes University — its yield rate (unknown Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Wilkes University.
- Bethel UniversitySaint Paul, MN · Close peer73% grad $63,764 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionMarion, IN · Close peer67% grad $59,986 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- The College of Saint ScholasticaDuluth, MN · Close peer66% grad $65,934 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Marymount UniversityArlington, VA · Close peer56% grad $67,516 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Wheaton CollegeWheaton, IL · Close peer86% grad $63,756 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Marian UniversityIndianapolis, IN · Close peer64% grad $58,759 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Wilkes University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Wilkes University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.70, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note