Wilson College
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 92.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 21/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Wilson College scores 21 (Poor Value) on the CampusROI scale - among the lower scores in the database. The data is stark: a 27.3-year payback period, $29,400 median 6-year earnings, a 48.2% completion rate, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.896. Net price of $21,741 means families pay more than $21,000 per year at a school where the median graduate earns $29,400 six years after enrollment - barely above poverty-level in many markets. The school reports only two programs with sufficient data: Registered Nursing (46 graduates, $73,257 year-one, C grade) and Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies (35 graduates, $35,554 year-one, D grade). Nursing is the clear financial rationale for this school. The repayment rate of 68.8% indicates that a material share of graduates struggle with loan repayment. Enrollment is 865. The SAT mid-range (450-570 Math, 480-610 Reading) and ACT data not reported reflects a broadly accessible institution. Wilson is a small Pennsylvania liberal arts college. Outside of nursing, the financial case for enrollment here is very difficult to make on the available data.
The data raises concerns about Wilson College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score21/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period27.3 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Wilson College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $27,100/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $27,100/yr |
| Average net price | $21,741/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $86,964 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $43,326 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $29,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,328 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $279 |
| Estimated payback period | 27.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 48.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 865 |
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: $27,100/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 $21,741/year, or roughly $86,964 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 $14,808/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,246/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $26,328 in federal loans, which works out to about $279 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $43,326 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.90, 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 | $14,808 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,436 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,236 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,905 |
| $110,001+ | $26,246 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $14,808 per year - nearly $60,000 over four years. Against $29,400 median 6-year earnings and a 27.3-year payback period, this is one of the worst ROI propositions for low-income students in this dataset. The combination of poor completion, low earnings, and high net-price-to-earnings ratio creates severe financial risk. Low-income students should consider other options seriously.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families pay $18,236 (48001-75000 bracket) to $20,905 (75001-110000 bracket) per year. Four-year costs of $73,000-$84,000 against $29,400 median earnings and a 27.3-year payback represent poor financial return for students outside the nursing program.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $26,246 per year - about $105,000 total. Against these earnings and completion metrics, the full-pay case at Wilson cannot be justified on financial grounds except for students specifically targeting nursing, where the outcomes are more defensible despite the debt level.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at Wilson College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $73,921 | C |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $41,954 | D |
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 (46 graduates) is Wilson's one financially defensible program: $73,257 year-one, $73,921 at year four (C grade, debt-to-earnings 0.561, median debt $41,066). Year-one earnings are solid for Pennsylvania nursing. The extraordinarily high median debt of $41,066 is the concern - it is $14,000 above the national nursing program median and produces a debt service burden that depresses the ROI grade to C. Students pursuing nursing at Wilson should compare debt levels against nursing programs at community colleges and Pennsylvania state universities before committing.
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies (35 graduates) earns $35,554 year-one and $41,954 at year four (D grade, debt-to-earnings 0.803, median debt $28,562). Year-one earnings of $35,554 for vet tech roles are above entry-level but below what is needed for comfortable debt service on $28,562 in loans. The D grade reflects this mismatch. Vet tech nationally is a field where earnings do not scale dramatically, and the four-year figure of $41,954 confirms limited upside.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 64.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 68.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 71.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 77.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Wilson College’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 | 92.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 450-570 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 480-610 |
| Enrollment | 865 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 23.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,205 |
At 92.1%, Wilson accepts nearly all applicants. The practical admission question is not selectivity but fit and financial planning. Given the 48.2% completion rate, students should consider whether Wilson's academic environment and program offerings align with their specific goals before committing.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Wilson's Scorecard peers include Albright College and Bryn Athyn College of the New Church. Among small Pennsylvania privates, Wilson's 21 ROI score reflects the intersection of poor completion, low earnings, and modest-to-high net price. Students considering Wilson for nursing should compare directly against Penn State nursing, Drexel's nursing programs, and Pennsylvania's community college-to-university nursing transfer pipelines, which typically deliver better debt-to-earnings ratios at lower total cost.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson College (this school) | 21 | $21,741 | $43,326 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
| Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary | 25 | $4,543 | $17,360 |
| Laguna College of Art and Design | 22 | $42,505 | $47,867 |
| Columbia International University | 21 | $26,036 | $38,951 |
Who Thrives Here
Wilson admits 92.1% of applicants, with SAT mid-ranges of 450-570 Math and 480-610 Reading (ACT not reported). Enrollment is 865. The 23.5% Pell grant rate reflects moderate financial need. Wilson's institutional identity includes a long history as a women's college and a current focus on equestrian and veterinary programs alongside nursing. The 48.2% completion rate is alarming - fewer than half of enrolled students earn a degree. Students should assess the academic and financial support infrastructure carefully before enrolling.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at Wilson College are a real concern. With a net cost of $21,741 per year and the typical graduate earning only $43,326 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 27.3 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost - go in with your eyes open.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 48.1% graduation rate, high debt relative to what graduates earn, concerning loan repayment rates, a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,328 against $43,326 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Wilson College: Common Questions
Is Wilson College worth it?
In our view, the numbers are a real concern - for most students the financial return does not justify the cost. Wilson College scores 21/100 on our ROI scale. At $21,741 a year after aid against $43,326 in typical earnings ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 27.3 years.
How much does Wilson College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $21,741 a year, or roughly $86,964 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Wilson College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $43,326 ten years after enrolling, roughly $1,526 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 Wilson College?
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 27.3 years for Wilson College. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do Wilson College graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $26,328, against $43,326 in typical earnings a decade out. That is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Wilson College?
The six-year graduation rate is 48.1%, below the 64% national average (NCES, 2022) - and not finishing is the fastest route to a poor return. 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.