Wilkes University (WU)

Black Pinpoint 84 W South St | Wilkes-Barre, PA | 18766

01. Overview

What the school is known for:

Wilkes University is a “small community with big opportunities.” Students describe the school as having the “perfect size—not too big [or] overwhelming,” and of being a “welcoming and friendly” campus. While “the classes are challenging” at Wilkes, the professors are “extremely considerate to your thoughts and goals.” In fact, students give faculty an “A+ rating.” They also state that classes are “small enough that there is plenty of time … to solidify information,” and one student points out that “not only do the professors take the time to ensure clarity, but many of them even make a strong effort to get to know each student personally.” Students appreciate the more personal education and find that it leads to an “interactive and inclusive college experience.” Another praises the “amazing resources,” which include “amazing networking opportunities.” That might be due to the fact that, even with the breadth of study options—the school has “a large number of academic programs" ranging from pharmacy to nursing to engineering—“everyone here genuinely wants you to succeed.”

02. Rankings

Rankings and Lists

03. Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Applicants Icon
Applicants
6,408
Acceptance Icon
Acceptance Rate
91%
GPA Icon
Average HS GPA
3.50

SAT & ACT Test Scores

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

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25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
510 - 640

SAT Math

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25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
513 - 630

SAT Composite Scores

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25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
1033 - 1150

ACT Composite Scores

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25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
20 - 29

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Testing Policies

Standardized testing policy for
use in admission:
Test Optional

Other Admission Factors Academic

Admission Factors Icon
Rigor of Secondary School Record
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Class Rank

Selectivity

4. Cost, Tuition, Expenses

Expenses per Academic Year

Tuition
$39,134
Average Cost for Books and Supplies
$1,600
Tuition / Fees Vary by Year of Study
No
Board for Commuters
1440
Transportation for Commuters
$2,000
On-Campus Room and Board
15850
Approximate Expenses per year
$60,024

Students Also View These Schools

05. Academics

Student Faculty Icon
Student/Faculty
13 : 1
Acceptance Icon
Total Faculty
412

Gender

Women
268
Men
144
Minority
60
International
0

Class/Lab sizes

Most frequent class size
10-19
Most frequent lab/sub section size
10-19

Rating

Graduation Rates

Graduate in 4 years
47%
Graduate in 5 years
58%
Graduate in 6 years
59%

University Degrees

Bachelor's
Certificate
Doctoral/Professional
Doctoral/Research
Master's
Post-Bachelor's certificate
Post-Master's certificate

06. Student Body

What students say:

Students at Wilkes are “driven, focused, and … well-rounded individuals” who consider each other to be abundantly friendly. “You can ask anyone for help at any time and it will be given,” says a student. The campus has a “very homey” feel, and “there is always chatter and laughter” to be heard between classes. Hailing “from all over the USA and [bringing] a wide variety of backgrounds,” the student body offers a “diversity [that] creates a very close-knit and accepting group of peers.” Furthermore, the students are “respectable and polite.” As one student explains, “Everyone is very welcoming and willing to talk to you.” And that’s something to be appreciated since “no one is afraid to ask questions” at Wilkes. Students cite that “everyone knows everyone,” which means “there is a place for everyone, no matter how different they are.” Overall, the campus is filled with students who just “really want to be there.”

Gender

53% female47% male

Out of State

21% are out
of state
79% are
in-state

Students

92% are
full time
8% are
part time

Student Body Profile

Total Undergraduate Enrollment
1,956
Foreign Countries Represented
13

Student Body Demographics

American Indian or Alaskan Native
0.11%
Asian
2.75%
Black
5.81%
Hispanic
11.41%
Caucasian
70.21%
Unknown
0.32%
International
5.76%

07. Mental Health

08. Campus Life

What students say:

Students agree: “There is always something to do at Wilkes outside of studying for your next quiz or exam.” On campus, Wilkes students enjoy school events such as casino and bingo nights and “countless clubs and activities, which give the students opportunities to interact and form relationships.” Additionally, students spend their time hiking, working out, playing video games, or just “visiting places around [Wilkes-Barre].” While some note that the surrounding city has room for improvement, one student reassures, “I feel completely safe no matter what time of day due to the way the university takes precautions.” Therefore, popular haunts around town include a multitude of restaurants, a bowling alley, and a movie theater that often offers students discounted tickets. Whether living on campus or commuting, students all enjoy that “everything is in close proximity.”

Students
40%
First-Year Students
59%
Campus Environment
Small Urban
Help finding off-campus housing
Yes

9. Campus Visits

Campus Visits Contact

Location Icon
Office of Admissions 184 South River Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766
Phone icon
570-408-4400

Campus Tours

Campus Visiting Center

Phone icon
5704084400

Campus Tours

Appointment Required:
Yes
Dates:
Year-round
Times:
9-4 weekdays, 9-12 Saturdays
Average Length:
1 hour

Visits

CLASS VISITS

Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

FACULTY AND COACH VISITS

Dates/Times Available
Year-round
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
 

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews:
Yes
Information Sessions:
Available
Times:
as part of interview

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Available
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Limitations
availability of host

Campus Tours




10. Sports & Athletics

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Athletic Division III

Participate in intercollegiate sports
24%

Men's Sports (Colonels)

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Basketball
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Cross Country
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Football
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Golf
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Lacrosse
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Soccer
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Swimming
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Tennis
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Volleyball
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Wrestling

Women's Sports (Colonels)

Icon
Basketball
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Cross Country
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Golf
Icon
Lacrosse
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Soccer
Icon
Softball
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Swimming
Icon
Tennis
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Volleyball

11. Housing & Activities

Hosting Features

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Apartment Single
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Dorms Coed
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Dorms Female
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Dorms Male

Special Needs Admissions

Director
Katy Betnar
College Entrance Tests Required
No
Interview Required
No

Student Activities

Registered Student Organizations
70
Number of Honor Societies
19
Number of Social Sororities
0
Join a fraternity
0%
Join a sorority
0%

12. Student Services

Health

Military

Army ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: King's College and University of Scranton
Air Force ROTC Offered on-campus

CAMPUS SECURITY REPORT

The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.

Please visit The Princeton Review's page on campus safety for additional resources:

Visit Page
Warning Icon

The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/

Other Information

Campus-wide Internet Network
Checkmark icon
Fee for Network Use
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Partnerships with Technology Companies
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Personal computer included in tuition for each student
X Mark icon
Discounts Available with Hardware Vendors
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Description Apple, Dell

13. Financial Aid

Dates

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Notification DateMar 1

Required Forms

FAFSA

Financial Aid Statistics

Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$29,856
Average Undergraduate Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$28,483
Average Need-Based Loan
$4,211
Financial aid provided to international students
No

Available Aid

Financial Aid Methodology
Scholarships and Grants

Need-Based Aid

01 - Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
02 - Need-Based Federal Pell
03 - Need-Based Private Scholarships
04 - Need-Based SEOG
05 - Need-Based State Scholarships

Federal Direct Student Loan Programs

01 - Direct PLUS Loans
02 - Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
03 - Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans

Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFEL):

01 - College/university loans from institutional funds
02 - Federal Nursing Loans
03 - Federal Perkins Loans
04 - State Loans
Is Institutional Employment Available (other than Federal Work Study)
Yes

14. Career Services & Jobs

Graduation Rates

Graduate in 4 years
47%
Graduate in 5 years
58%
Graduate in 6 years
59%

Career Services

01 - Alumni Network
02 - Alumni Services
03 - Classes
04 - Interest Inventory
05 - Internships
06 - Regional Alumni

Opportunities at School

01 - Coop
02 - Internship

15. Majors

Down Arrow Icon

01 BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.

  • Biochemistry.
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
  • Neuroscience.
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02 BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES.

  • Accounting.
  • Business Administration and Management, General.
  • Finance, General.
  • Hospitality Administration/Management, General.
  • Marketing/Marketing Management, General.
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03 COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND RELATED PROGRAMS.

  • Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia.
  • Speech Communication and Rhetoric.
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04 COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.

  • Computer and Information Sciences, General.
  • Information Science/Studies.
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05 EDUCATION.

  • Elementary Education and Teaching.
  • Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching.
  • Secondary Education and Teaching.
  • Special Education and Teaching, General.
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07 ENGINEERING.

  • Civil Engineering, General.
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering
  • Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering.
  • Mechanical Engineering.
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08 ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.

  • English Language and Literature, General.
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10 HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS.

  • Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist.
  • Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
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11 HISTORY.

  • History, General.
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12 LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, GENERAL STUDIES AND HUMANITIES.

  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies.
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13 MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.

  • Mathematics, General.
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14 MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.

  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other.
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17 PHYSICAL SCIENCES.

  • Chemistry, General.
  • Geology/Earth Science, General.
  • Physics, General.
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18 PSYCHOLOGY.

  • Psychology, General.
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19 SOCIAL SCIENCES.

  • Criminology.
  • International Relations and Affairs.
  • Political Science and Government, General.
  • Sociology.
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20 VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.

  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
  • Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology.

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