Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Wilkes University is a private national university located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Wilkes University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Wilkes University is in the bottom 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $56,992 10 years after enrolling, 36th in Pennsylvania, and in the top 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Wilkes University bachelor students earn 6% less than the national average. Wilkes University is ranked 57th in Pennsylvania.
Wilkes University’s median net annual cost of $29,618 and average years to graduate of 4.4 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Wilkes University sorted by number of graduates - Registered Nursing, Business Administration, Mechanical Engineering, Psychology, Environmental Engineering, Finance - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$29,618
Average years to graduate
4.4
Computer science
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 2.93
Accounting
Rank: #451
Economic score: 4.42
Biology
Rank: #210
Economic score: 5.04
Marketing
Rank: #322
Economic score: 5.95
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #300
Economic score: 6.59
Sociology
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 8.89
Mathematics
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 11.43
Education
Rank: #389
Economic score: 14.46
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 5 graduate programs at Wilkes University - Education (subject specific), Registered Nursing, Educ. Administration, Business Administration, Education - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.4 years. 65% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Wilkes University is 2% lower than the state average, and 2% below the average for all national universities in the country.
At Wilkes University, Pell Grant recipients represent 33% of the measured graduating class, 2% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Wilkes University graduates within 4.4 years.
Wilkes University is in the top 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Wilkes University’s economic mobility score of 11.06 is calculated by adjusting the 5.07 economic score of lower-income students by the 33% pell grant recipients within the student body. Wilkes University’s EMS of 11.06 ranks in the bottom 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Wilkes University pays $29,618 a year, $29,327 less than the $58,945 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $29,618
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Wilkes University, 96% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $29,618 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 84% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $11,703. This is 30% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,594
Pell grants
$4,748
State grants
$3,609
Institutional grants
$22,517
Wilkes University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 95% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 4,019 applicants, of which 3,809 were admitted and 556 enrolled. Wilkes University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
98%
83%
Female
54%
59%
First time
74%
59%
In-state
71%
68%
1st generation
35%
35%
White
73%
52%
Black
5%
14%
Hispanic
8%
15%
Asian
2%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
10%
12%