Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Dallas, Pennsylvania · Public · 97.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 65/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Penn State Wilkes-Barre scores 65 (Fair Value) on CampusROI. The earnings premium (score 85) and payback period (score 81) look solid, but the completion rate is 22.7%: fewer than one in four students who enroll actually graduate. That single metric should dominate any enrollment decision. Average 6-year earnings of $43,600 and a 7.2-year payback reflect a Penn State branch campus that benefits from the Penn State credential for students who complete and transfer to the main campus or finish at Wilkes-Barre. Net price of $16,448 is reasonable, with in-state tuition of $14,280. Median debt of $25,000 and debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.573 are within normal range for completers. This is a tiny campus (313 students) with 97.0% admission, serving the northeastern Pennsylvania region. The program-level data shows Information Science ($66,209 year-one, 12 graduates) and Electrical Engineering ($74,958 year-one, 3 graduates) as the strongest outcomes, but the graduate counts are very small.
How Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- 6-year graduation rate22.7% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $14,280/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $24,006/yr |
| Average net price | $16,448/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $65,792 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $63,435 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $43,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 22.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 313 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $14,280/year ($24,006/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $16,448/year, or roughly $65,792 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $9,795/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,027/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($43,600) and comes to 0.57, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $9,795 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,760 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,570 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,530 |
| $110,001+ | $22,027 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $9,795 per year at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Over four years that is roughly $39,180. Against $43,600 average earnings, the payback math works, but only for students who graduate. The 22.7% completion rate means most low-income students who enroll here do not reach the payback calculation.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-75,000) pay $15,570 per year; the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $17,530. The earnings premium of the Penn State name is real. The completion rate remains the central risk for any income bracket.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110,000 pay $22,027 per year.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Information Science | $91,671 | B |
| Business Administration and Management | $65,292 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $56,877 | C |
| Surveying Engineering | $77,094 | - |
| Electrical Engineering | $93,277 | B |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $51,635 | D |
| Business/Corporate Communications | $55,840 | D |
| Human Resources Management | $81,755 | C+ |
| Psychology | $49,543 | D |
| International Relations | $68,918 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Information Science
Information Science (12 graduates) earns $66,209 year-one and $91,671 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.393 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $26,000 is manageable against those earnings. IS graduates in northeastern Pennsylvania can access Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area employers as well as remote technology roles.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering reports $74,958 year-one and $93,277 at year four from 3 graduates - too small a cohort to draw reliable conclusions. The caveat is that three graduates is a single digit; this data should be treated as directionally interesting but not statistically meaningful for prospective students making enrollment decisions.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration (7 graduates) earns $45,110 year-one and $65,292 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.599 (ROI grade C). Median debt of $27,000 against $45,110 starting salary is workable. The C grade reflects adequate but not strong outcomes for a business degree. Again, the graduate count is very small, limiting how much weight to place on this data.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 76.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 74.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 79.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 97.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 540-650 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 550-680 |
| Enrollment | 313 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 39.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,188 |
Penn State Wilkes-Barre admits 97.0% of applicants - effectively open access. SAT ranges of 540-650 Math and 550-680 Reading describe the admitted pool. Scorecard does not report ACT ranges. The challenge is not admission but retention and completion: the 22.7% completion rate means the majority of students do not finish their degree at this campus.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre (this school) | 65 | $16,448 | $63,435 |
| University of Maine at Fort Kent | 64 | $7,482 | $51,077 |
| Ohio University-Eastern Campus | 62 | $3,925 | $52,581 |
| Ohio University-Zanesville Campus | 60 | $5,746 | $52,581 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | 51 | $18,134 | $56,148 |
| Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | 11 | $14,265 | $37,837 |
Who Thrives Here
Penn State Wilkes-Barre admits 97.0% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 540-650 Math and 550-680 Reading (ACT not reported). This campus has 313 enrolled students. The 39.4% Pell rate is moderate. The campus-specific experience is limited by its small size.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $16,448 a year after aid ($65,792 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $63,435 a decade out, the cost takes about 7.2 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: its 22.7% graduation rate.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $43,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre: Common Questions
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 65/100 on our ROI scale. At $16,448 a year after aid ($65,792 over four years) against $63,435 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 7.2 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $16,448 a year, or roughly $65,792 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $63,435 ten years after enrolling, roughly $21,635 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 7.2 years for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $43,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre?
The six-year graduation rate is 22.7%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.