WCU vs. Wilkes

Should I go to West Chester University of Pennsylvania or Wilkes University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WCU or Wilkes is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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West Chester University of Pennsylvania vs. Wilkes University comparison
West Chester University of Pennsylvania Wilkes University College 3 College 4
West Chester University of Pennsylvania Wilkes University
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Overview

WCU Wilkes
Location West Chester, PA Wilkes-Barre, PA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 17,275 5,207
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #496 #478
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wcupa.edu wilkes.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

WCU Wilkes
Tuition (In State) $7,716 $39,134
Tuition (Out of State) $19,290 $39,134
Room & Board $14,228 $15,850
Avg Net Price $22,973 $27,918
Avg Grant Aid $5,443 $29,441
% Receiving Grant Aid 64% 97%

Admission

WCU Wilkes
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,778 4,798
Admitted 12,982 4,517
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 94.1%
Enrolled % 23.2% 10.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.43 3.56
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/30 21/26
SAT Range 1080/1260 1060/1260
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

WCU Wilkes
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

WCU Wilkes
Graduation Rate 68% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,000 $58,200
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $242 $268

Diversity

WCU Wilkes
% Men 39% 31%
% Women 61% 69%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 73%
% Black 11% 4%
% Hispanic 5% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 0% 9%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

WCU Wilkes
% In-State 87% 75%
% Out-of-State 12% 24%

Campus

WCU Wilkes
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania is larger than than Wilkes based on total student enrollment (17,275 students vs. 5,207 students)

WCU vs. Wilkes Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WCU or Wilkes?

  • Wilkes University is 407.2% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($39,134.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 102.9% higher at Wilkes than West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($39,134.00 vs. $19,290.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than Wilkes ($22,973 vs. $27,918)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania are 11.4% lower than costs at Wilkes University ($14,228 vs. $15,850)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wilkes University than West Chester University of Pennsylvania (97% vs. 64%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 440.9% larger than aid received West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($29,441 vs. $5,443)

WCU vs. Wilkes Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WCU or Wilkes? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wilkes or WCU .

  • The average SAT score at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (1072) is 19 points higher than at Wilkes (1053)
  • Accepted freshman Wilkes students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at WCU (3.43)
  • Wilkes has a higher acceptance rate (94.1%) than WCU (87.8%)

WCU vs. Wilkes Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WCU or Wilkes? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Wilkes and WCU.

  • The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Wilkes University (68% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from Wilkes University earn on average $9,200 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($58,200 vs. $49,000)
  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Wilkes graduates. ($23,500 vs. $26,000)
  • WCU graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Wilkes graduates. ($242 vs. $268)
  • More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wilkes students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/