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Widener University

Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 68/100

Widener University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Chester, Pennsylvania

About Widener University

Widener University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Chester, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 2,951 students (a mid-sized 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.

Official website: widener.edu

Acceptance: 70.9%
Graduation: 62.8%
Net Price: $25,759
Median Earnings (10yr): $70,920
Enrollment: 2,951
Student : Faculty: 11:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Academic Calendar Semester

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

Outcomes 64

Value 52

Affordability 39

Selectivity 57

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 70.9%, Widener University is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate

70.9%

Moderate

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1080 – 1290

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Widener University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 12.1 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Widener University 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 $25,759 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$25,759

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

33%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

72%

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: $55,730
Room & Board (on-campus): $16,530
Room & Board (off-campus): $9,900
Books & Supplies: $1,408
Other Expenses (on-campus): $1,890
Other Expenses (off-campus): $2,646
Total Cost of Attendance: $70,621

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

$21,200
$30,001 – $48,000

$22,275
$48,001 – $75,000

$22,514
$75,001 – $110,000

$25,900
Over $110,000

$32,296

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.

$4,570

10% percentile

$8,750

25% percentile

$27,000

Median percentile

$28,000

75% percentile

$35,500

90% 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 $25,500 ↓ $1,500

No Pell $23,250 ↓ $3,750

Dependent students $25,182 ↓ $1,818

Independent students $18,750 ↓ $8,250

Female students $25,250 ↓ $1,750

Male students $22,500 ↓ $4,500

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,300, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

63% of full-time students who enrolled at Widener University graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

63%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

78%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Widener University earn a median of $70,920 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$70,920

Earning > $25K

88%

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

$54,000

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$64,900

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$63,000

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$52,100

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$61,100

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $10,900, about 17% 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 ↑ 12.9 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 87% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Widener University is home to 2,951 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 30% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

2,951

Part-Time

First-Generation

30%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 51.3% 1,513

Black 28.6% 843

Hispanic 9.7% 285

Asian 4.1% 122

Other 1.7% 51

International 1.6% 46

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Widener University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large Suburb Chester, Pennsylvania

Housing

Mostly residential 1,400 beds on campus

Adult Learners

10% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Widener University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 86 distinct programs across 20 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.

15 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Rehabilitation $56K ($40K–$74K)
Health Administration $59K ($42K–$80K)

4 Programs

Legal Studies

Law $143K ($74K–$297K)
Legal Research $63K ($47K–$84K)
Legal Research $63K ($47K–$84K)

4 Programs

Public Administration

Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)
Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)
Public Administration $65K ($47K–$87K)

16 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Finance $83K ($61K–$112K)

12 Programs

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)
Mechatronics & Robotics $102K ($83K–$125K)
Civil Engineering $87K ($74K–$101K)

2 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Widener University is 11:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

11:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$250M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$77,982

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

276 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	66	24%	$106,764
Associate Professors	89	32%	$73,688
Assistant Professors	114	41%	$65,645
Instructors	4	1%	$63,928
Lecturers	3	1%	$59,751

Pros & Cons of Widener University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Widener University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Above-average post-graduation earnings

CONS

Above-average net price
High published cost of attendance before aid
Most students take on federal loans

Best for: Based on the data, Widener University is a fit for students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions about Widener University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Widener University.

Is Widener University hard to get into?

Admissions at Widener University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 70.9%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.

What is the acceptance rate at Widener University?

Widener University has an acceptance rate of 70.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Widener University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Widener University scored between 1080 and 1290 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 Widener University cost?

The average net price after aid at Widener University is $25,759 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Widener University worth it?

Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $70,920 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $25,759 per year. That's roughly 2.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Widener University known for?

Widener University is best known for its programs in Law, Social Work, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Widener University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Widener University are $70,920, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Widener University accredited?

Yes. Widener University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

How many students attend Widener University?

Widener University enrolls 2,951 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Widener University?

Widener University graduates 63% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Widener University a public or private college?

Widener University is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Widener University located?

Widener University is located in Chester, Pennsylvania.

What programs does Widener University offer?

Widener University offers 86 distinct programs. The most popular include Law, Social Work, Nursing.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Widener University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Widener University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.