Wilkes University
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 90.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 65/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Wilkes University scores 65 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. A 63.2% completion rate, $47,200 median 6-year earnings, and an 8.8-year payback period describe a school that delivers acceptable but not exceptional outcomes at a private-school price. Sticker tuition is $43,496 but net price of $27,743 reflects significant aid. Median debt of $26,000 is moderate. The repayment rate of 84.4% is the strongest subscore, suggesting that graduates who complete do manage their debt. Registered Nursing is the anchor: 138 graduates, $77,226 year-one, $92,034 year-four, B-grade ROI. Engineering programs (Mechanical at $63,062 year-one, Environmental at $60,098 year-one) perform reasonably well. Accounting ($53,818 year-one) and the small Computer and Information Sciences cohort ($83,041 year-one) are the business and tech anchors. Psychology (D grade, $29,007 year-one) and Business Administration (C grade, $40,508 year-one) are below expectation for a private school charging $43,496 sticker. The 63.2% completion rate means roughly one in three students does not graduate - a significant risk at this price point.
Wilkes University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $43,496/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $43,496/yr |
| Average net price | $27,743/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $110,972 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $63,454 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $47,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $276 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 63.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,985 |
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: $43,496/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $27,743/year, or roughly $110,972 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 $25,062/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $31,638/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $26,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $276 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $63,454 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.55, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
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 | $25,062 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $23,440 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $26,432 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,843 |
| $110,001+ | $31,638 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $25,062 net price at Wilkes. This is the lowest net price tier but still a significant sum for a family in this income range. Nursing graduates at this net price will achieve positive ROI, but the 63.2% completion rate means many students will incur debt without a credential. Low-income students at a private school with an uncertain completion rate face the highest financial risk in the portfolio.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30001-48000 bracket pays $23,440, dipping slightly below the lowest bracket. The 48001-75000 bracket pays $26,432. Middle-income families pay near the institutional average. At $47,200 median earnings and 8.8-year payback, the financial case is acceptable for nursing and engineering graduates and weak for most other programs.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $31,638 per year - roughly $127,000 over four years. At $47,200 median 6-year earnings, full-pay families face a 12-15 year payback for most programs. Only nursing and engineering graduates justify this investment on financial grounds alone. Families considering Wilkes at full price should focus on whether program-specific outcomes support the cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Wilkes University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $92,034 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $57,020 | C |
| Mechanical Engineering | $79,326 | B |
| Psychology | $48,033 | D |
| Biology | $57,332 | C |
| Teacher Education | $52,234 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $72,961 | C |
| Environmental Engineering | $70,039 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $36,271 | D |
| Marketing | $71,501 | 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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (138 graduates) is Wilkes's strongest program by volume and ROI: $77,226 year-one, $92,034 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.373 (ROI grade B), median debt of $28,813. At $27,743 net price, nursing graduates recover their investment in roughly 5-6 years. The high graduate volume makes nursing the institutional anchor for strong outcomes.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (31 graduates) earns B-grade ROI: $63,062 year-one, $79,326 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.428 with median debt of $27,000. The year-four trajectory to $79k is solid for a regional engineering program in northeastern Pennsylvania. For students committed to staying in the region, Wilkes's engineering programs offer access to manufacturing and industrial employers.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences has only 5 graduates in the Scorecard data, so these figures carry significant uncertainty. Year-one earnings of $83,041 are strong. Four-year earnings, median debt, and ROI grade are not reported due to small sample. The single data point suggests CS graduates do well, but the tiny cohort size means this cannot be treated as representative of a robust program.
Psychology
Psychology (30 graduates) earns D-grade ROI: $29,007 year-one, $48,033 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.896 with median debt of $26,000. Year-one earnings of $29,007 against $26,000 in debt means nearly a full year's salary is owed at graduation. At $43,496 sticker tuition, psychology is a financially challenging choice at Wilkes without a clear plan for graduate school.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 79.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 84.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 78.9% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 81.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Wilkes University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
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 | 90.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 490-620 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 530-630 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-29 |
| Enrollment | 1,985 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 34.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,848 |
Wilkes admits 90.6% of applicants. SAT 490-620 Math, 530-630 Reading, ACT 22-29 are the middle ranges. Admission is accessible. The completion rate of 63.2% is the more consequential metric - students should enter with a support plan and a realistic assessment of their academic readiness.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Wilkes's Scorecard peers include Albright College, Saint Peter's University, and Benedictine University. At ROI 65, Wilkes sits mid-range within its peer group. The 84.4% repayment rate is Wilkes's strongest comparative metric. The school's nursing program is a genuine asset. Completion rate (63.2%) is a middle-of-the-pack result for this peer cohort. Wilkes's location in northeastern Pennsylvania limits some employer pipeline access relative to peers in major metropolitan areas.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilkes University (this school) | 65 | $27,743 | $63,454 |
| Saint Peter's University | 68 | $12,199 | $57,815 |
| Benedictine University | 65 | $22,313 | $63,446 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | 62 | $22,866 | $59,986 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
Wilkes admits 90.6% of applicants - near open-access for a private university. SAT mid-range is 490-620 Math, 530-630 Reading; ACT composite 22-29. Enrollment of 1,985 makes it a small private university in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Pell grant rate of 34.5% reflects moderate working-class enrollment. The school is a viable choice for Pennsylvania residents seeking nursing or engineering at a private school price, but the 63.2% completion rate and 8.8-year payback mean value depends heavily on field and finishing.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Wilkes University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $27,743 a year after aid ($110,972 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $63,454 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.8 years to earn back. That's roughly average - not a bargain, not a mistake.
What it has going for it: high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $26,000 against $63,454 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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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.