About Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Dallas, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 313 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes33
Value82
Affordability67
Selectivity32
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 97%, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
97%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1090 – 1330
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $16,448 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$16,448
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
39%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
54%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$14,280
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$24,006
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,274
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,020
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,994
Application fee: $65 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$9,795
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,760
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,570
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,530
Over $110,000
$22,027
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$8,75025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$34,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,980
↓ $4,020
No Pell $19,500
↓ $5,500
Dependent students $19,500
↓ $5,500
Independent students $19,486
↓ $5,514
Female students $20,000
↓ $5,000
Male students $19,500
↓ $5,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
61% of full-time students who enrolled at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduate within six years, and 80% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
61%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
80%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre earn a median of $63,435 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$63,435
Earning > $25K
84%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$50,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$63,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$50,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$53,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$62,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,000, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 91% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre is home to 313 students, an intimate, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
313
Part-Time
8%
First-Generation
29%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 75.1%235
Black 9.6%30
Hispanic 9.0%28
Other 2.9%9
Asian 2.2%7
International 0.3%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeDallas, Pennsylvania
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
7%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Branch campus
What You Can Study
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre offers
a varied set of programs:
14 distinct programs across
8 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$76,567
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
29 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
5
17%
$107,303
Associate Professors
3
10%
$88,540
Assistant Professors
3
10%
$64,860
Instructors
11
38%
$70,834
Lecturers
7
24%
$63,507
Pros & Cons of Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
Best for:
Based on the data, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre hard to get into?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 97%.
What is the acceptance rate at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre has an acceptance rate of 97%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre scored between 1090 and 1330 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre cost?
The average net price after aid at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre is $16,448 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $16,448 per year. That's roughly 3.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre known for?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre is best known for its programs in Information Science, Business, Criminal Justice. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre are $63,435, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre accredited?
Yes. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre enrolls 313 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates 61% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre a public or private college?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre is a Public institution.
Where is Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre located?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre is located in Dallas, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre offer?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre offers 14 distinct programs. The most popular include Information Science, Business, Criminal Justice.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Rankings That Feature Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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