90.64%

Acceptance Rate

$23,409

Avg.Financial Aid

003394

FAFSA Code

Wilkes University Report Card

Selectivity
90.6% acceptance rate
Academics
B
63% graduation rate
Class Size
C+
12:1 student-faculty ratio
Value
B-
$43,496 tuition

Grades calculated by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES data. Methodology: How we grade →

Key Facts: Wilkes University

Institution
Wilkes University
Type
Private not-for-profit

Data compiled by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES and official university sources. Last verified July 2026. Citable source →

Wilkes University

  • Type Control of Institution - Public/Private

    Private, Not-For-Profit

  • Acceptance Rate:

    N/A

  • Level

    4 Years

  • Religious Affiliation Indicates religious affiliation (denomination) for private not-for-profit institutions that are religiously affiliated.

    Not applicable

  • Accreditation Accreditation is the process by which the quality of learning at various educational institutions are evaluated. Read More.

    MSCHE

  • Website

    www.wilkes.edu
  • Student Population Number of Students attending College

    1,985

  • On Campus Housing Does the institution provide on-campus housing?

    Yes

Wilkes University is a private not-for-profit university which is located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, United States. The university was established in the year 1933 as a branch of the Bucknell University, and later in the year 1947, it became an independent institution under the name Wilkes College which was named after John Wilkes. The university got its current name in the year 1990 after being granted the university status.

The university offers various degree programs to suit different types of students and currently, it has around 5,552 students enrolled in various programs. It includes 2,847 full-time and 2,705 part-time students. 

  • It is known for being a veterans and military-friendly university.

  • The student-faculty ratio of the university is 14:1.

  • The university has over 157 academic staff dedicated to providing quality education.

  • University's acceptance rate is 76%, which means around 76 students are admitted into the university per 100 students who apply there.

  • To provide better learning and educational experience, the university offers various facilities and services to its students. In order to help the students develop various skills and shape their careers, services such as the bookstore, career services, veterans services, financial, and many more are provided.


Online Education at Wilkes University

The online programs are designed keeping in mind the needs and requirements of the students having time limitations. The flexible structure allows the students to work and learn at the same time. The university provides 24/7 online access to its students, hence the students can learn when it is most convenient for them to learn.

  • The university offers various programs in Master, Doctorate, and Certificate levels.

  • The university offers different areas of study and the majors offered by the university are Arts, Nursing, Business Management, Education, Fine Arts, and Media Studies.

  • The university allows it’s students to transfer the credits without any difficulty.

For more info on Programs and Tuition


Reviews

According to the reviews provided, it can be concluded that the university lives up to its reputation of offering high-quality education and facilities.

Some of the university reviews are given below.

  • It is a great university with excellent and dedicated faculty and staff members.

  • The workload is manageable.

  • Wilkes University campus life is engaging and the university allows its students to represent it in the intercollegiate athletic tournaments.

Location & Contact

Address

84 West South Street, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Contact

Phone: (570) 408-5000
Find Your School

Rankings

Some of the rankings according to the US News are listed below.

  • The university is ranked 68th in the list of 'Regional Universities-North'. 

  • It is ranked 38th in the list of 'Best Colleges for Veterans' and 45th for 'Best Value Schools'.

Admissions

  • Application Deadline Deadline for application submissions. Please contact the school for more details.

    FALSE

  • Acceptance Rate Percentage of applicants who are accepted in an Institution.

    90.64%

  • SAT Range

    1050 - 1240

  • SAT/ACT

    Recommended

  • ACT Range

    21 - 27

  • High School GPA

    Required

  • Application Fee

    $40

  • Accept Common App

    Yes

Wilkes University Application Process

Admissions to Wilkes University

Admission Requirements for Education Programs

  • Completion of the online application via university's online portal.

  • Official college transcripts

  • Two letters of recommendation and a resume/curriculum vitae

  • Submission of copies of certifications or licenses (if applicable)


 Admission Requirements for Nursing Programs

  • Completion of the application form.

  • An associate's degree for RN to MSN program or a baccalaureate degree for MSN program/master's degree for PhD program from an accredited university with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

  • Official transcripts from the previous institution attended.

  • 2 letters of recommendation and a resume.

  • RN license


Admission Requirements for Creative Writing Programs

  • Candidates must complete the online application.

  • Official transcripts from all previous institutions attended.

  • A 15-25 page of candidates creative writing sample.

  • A 5-10 pages essay.

  • A current resume/curriculum vitae

For more info on Admissions

Annual Cost to Attend

  • Net Price Cost of attendance minus any grants and scholarships received.

    $27,743

  • Average Annual Cost

    $43,496

Additional Costs:

  • Books And Supplies

    $55,676

  • Other Fees

    $1,740

  • Room And Board The charges for an academic year for Rooming accommodations and meals for a typical student.

    $14,682

  • Budget For Other Expenses

    $3,200

Total One Year Cost

$55,676

This section will provide you with information regarding the average annual cost to attend the university while giving the information regarding the other expenses also.

The average annual tuition fees of the university are $34,454. Whereas the average net price amounts to $27,200. 

On average the total one year cost comes around $55,676.

Academics

Highest Degree Offered The highest degree offered by the Institution.

NA

Student:Faculty Ratio

12:1

Full-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

72%

Part-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

33%

Academic Calendar

Semester

Research Funding per Student

$765

Faculty Overview

52%

Male Professors

48%

Female Professors

Non-traditional Learning

Evening Degree Programs

Teacher Certification

Distance Education

Study Abroad

Majors

Most Popular Majors:

  • Registered Nursing, Administration,...

    92 Graduates

  • Liberal Arts and Sciences, General...

    68 Graduates

  • Business Administration, Management...

    57 Graduates

  • Mechanical Engineering

    47 Graduates

  • Psychology, General

    45 Graduates

  • Biology, General

    31 Graduates

  • Accounting and Related Services

    25 Graduates

  • Electrical, Electronics and Communi...

    24 Graduates

  • Psychology, General

    45 Graduates

  • Biology, General

    31 Graduates

  • Accounting and Related Services

    25 Graduates

  • Electrical, Electronics and Communi...

    24 Graduates

  • Finance and Financial Management Se...

    24 Graduates

  • Criminology

    22 Graduates

  • Teacher Education and Professional...

    22 Graduates

  • Marketing

    20 Graduates

  • Communication and Media Studies

    17 Graduates

  • Sociology

    14 Graduates

  • Radio, Television, and Digital Comm...

    13 Graduates

  • English Language and Literature, Ge...

    12 Graduates

  • Environmental/Environmental Health...

    11 Graduates

  • Entrepreneurial and Small Business...

    10 Graduates

  • Political Science and Government

    10 Graduates

  • Neurobiology and Neurosciences

    8 Graduates

  • Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosc...

    6 Graduates

  • History

    6 Graduates

  • Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Ot...

    5 Graduates

  • Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecu...

    4 Graduates

  • Computer and Information Sciences,...

    4 Graduates

  • Information Science/Studies

    4 Graduates

  • Romance Languages, Literatures, and...

    4 Graduates

  • Chemistry

    3 Graduates

  • Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science...

    3 Graduates

  • Engineering-Related Fields

    3 Graduates

  • Mathematics

    3 Graduates

  • Philosophy

    2 Graduates

  • Physics

    2 Graduates

  • Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

    1 Graduates

  • International Relations and Nationa...

    1 Graduates

Show More

Student Body

Undergraduate Students

2,455

Socio-Economic Diversity Percent of full-time, first-time students receiving an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

34%

Full-time / Part-time

90% / 10%

Students Gender

Male

53%

US National: 44%

Female

47%

US National: 56%

LGBTQIA STUDENT RESOURCE GROUPS

ON CAMPUS WOMEN'S CENTER

Race/Ethnicity

White

71%

Unknown

5%

Black

5%

Hispanic

6%

Two or more races

3%

Non Resident alien

8%

Asian

2%

American Indian/Alaska native

0%

Native Hawaiians/Pacific islander

0%

Geographic Density

Geographic Density

High

0%

Unknown Location

26%

Out Of State

72%

In State

2%

Foreign

Economic Diversity

36% percentage of students who recieved an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Median Household Income

$56,457 per year

Campus Life

Housing

The students can reside on campus and 74% of Freshman Live On-Campus.

On Campus Housing Available

Yes

Freshmen Required to Live on Campus

No

Freshmen Live on Campus

74%

Undergrads in College Housing

44%

Averege Housing Cost

$8,858/year

Campus Food

The institution has several dining and meal plan options available to students and the average meal plan cost is around $5,824/year.

Meal Plan Available

Yes

Average Meal Plan Available

$5,824/year

Athletes

Division Sports Nickname

Colonels

School Colors

blue and gold

Varsity Athletics Association

NCAA

Varsity Athletics Conference Primary

Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation

Total Male Athletes

287

Total Female Athletes

148

Intramural Sports

7

Sports Club

14

Sports Team (Men)

Baseball

Basketball

Cross Country

Football

Golf

Ice Hockey

Lacrosse

Soccer

Swimming and Diving

Tennis

Volleyball

Wrestling

Sports Team (Women)

Basketball

Cross Country

Field Hockey

Golf

Ice Hockey

Lacrosse

Soccer

Softball

Swimming and Diving

Tennis

Volleyball

Campus Security

The university additionally offers an on-campus housing facility for students who wish to dwell nearby. A candidate will be needed to pay a normal expense of $15,108 per year for living on campus. Wilkes University has several dining and meal plan options for its students and the average meal plan at WU costs around $5,824 per year. The university considers the safety and security of its students to be paramount. At WU, campus safety and security features include 24-hr security patrol, campus emergency phones, 24-hr escort safety rides and mobile campus emergency alert. The number of female and male students at the university are 50% and 50%, respectively.

24-Hour Security Patrol

Campus Emergency Phones

24-Hour Escort Safety rides

Mobile Campus Emergency Alert

After Graduation

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation

$41,400/year

Median Earnings 10 Years After Graduation

$51,600/year

Median Total Debt After Graduation The median cumulative federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated.

$24,081 - $27,000

Typical Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 4.53% interest rate.

$250 - $280

Outcomes 8 Years of Attending

Show data for students who

and started their studies

Out of 7,811 students

30% Graduated

10% Still Enrolled

15% Transfer

1% Withdraw

Financial Aid

Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid.

93%

Average Aid Per Year

$23,409

Students Receiving Federal Grants

32%

Average Aid Per Year

$4,696

Students Receiving State Aid

42%

Average Aid Per Year

$3,524

Students Receiving Institutional Grants

93%

Average Aid Per Year

$20,188

Average Grant & Scholarship by Family Income Aid awarded based on the family income.

Income

Average Amount

< $30K

$27,389

$30K - $48K

$27,865

$48K - $75K

$25,945

$75K - $110K

$22,108

> $110K

$20,945

Total Non-Needs based Scholarships/Grants

$4,531,897

The university is known for providing the students with various different facilities and services to help them acquire a quality education which includes offering financial aid to the students who are unable to bear the educational expenses

Financial aids are provided in various forms such as loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study programs.

The interested students must fill up the FAFSA form, in order to avail the financial assistance. Wilkes University federal school code is 003394.

  • The university offers various Institutional Aid programs like Wilkes University Grant, Trustee Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship, Dean Scholarship, Provost Scholarship, and Air Force ROTC Scholarships. 

  • The Federal Aid available for the students includes Pell Grant, Federal Work-Study, Federal Stafford Loan, Federal PLUS Loans, and many more.

  •  State Aid available for the students includes the Pennsylvania State Grant Program.

  • The university also provides Military Aid like the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wilkes University

How hard is it to get into Wilkes University?

Wilkes University is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 90.6%. Strong applicants typically have above-average test scores, a rigorous course load, and compelling extracurricular activities.

How much does Wilkes University cost?

Tuition at Wilkes University is approximately $43,496 per year before financial aid. Room, board, fees, and personal expenses add to the total cost of attendance. Most students receive scholarships or financial aid that reduces the net price.

How many students attend Wilkes University?

Wilkes University enrolls approximately 1,985 students across its programs.

What is the graduation rate at Wilkes University?

The graduation rate at Wilkes University is 63%, reflecting the percentage of students who complete their degree within the standard timeframe.

What is the student-faculty ratio at Wilkes University?

The student-faculty ratio at Wilkes University is 12:1, meaning students typically have good access to faculty for mentoring, research, and smaller class experiences.

What SAT and ACT scores do I need for Wilkes University?

Wilkes University typically admits students with SAT scores in the range of 530-630 (Reading) and 490-620 (Math) and ACT composite scores of 22-29. Check the admissions office for the most current testing requirements and whether test-optional policies apply.

Is Wilkes University a public or private university?

Wilkes University is a private not-for-profit institution.

When is the application deadline for Wilkes University?

Application deadlines at Wilkes University vary by program. Early Decision and Early Action applicants typically submit in November, while Regular Decision deadlines fall in early January. Always check the official admissions website for the current cycle's dates.

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