Ship vs. Wilkes

Comparable Facts

Compare Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in Shippensburg, PA with Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wilkes University is larger than Ship based on total student enrollment (5,381 students vs. 5,161 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is located in Shippensburg, PA (Distant Town setting); Wilkes University is in Wilkes-Barre, PA (Small City setting).
• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wilkes University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 18:1; Wilkes University 13:1.

Ship vs. Wilkes Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ship or Wilkes? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania than Wilkes ($23,772 vs. $28,511).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania are 17.5% lower than at Wilkes University ($13,340 vs. $16,166).
• Wilkes University is 217% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ship (about $29,776 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $13,720.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 172.3% higher at Wilkes than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (about $27,522 more per year; $43,496.00 vs. $15,974.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wilkes University than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (100% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 319.2% larger than aid received by Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania students ($28,324 vs. $6,756).

Ship vs. Wilkes Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Ship or Wilkes? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Wilkes and Ship.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wilkes University (1140) is 40 points higher than at Ship (1100).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 990/1210; Wilkes University 1020/1250.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWilkes University 22/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ship - Test optional; Wilkes - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Wilkes students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Ship (3.23).
• Wilkes has a higher acceptance rate (90.6%) than Ship (86.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at Ship vs. 9.3% at Wilkes.

Ship vs. Wilkes Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ship and Wilkes? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Wilkes University's (58%).
• Graduates from Wilkes University earn a median of about $11,000 more per year than Ship graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,200 vs. $47,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Wilkes graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Ship graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wilkes graduates ($258 vs. $268).
• More Wilkes graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ship students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.