At $30,470/yr net price, Widener University graduates earn $70,920/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $36,920/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $30,470 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $121,880 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $70,920/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$36,920/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.3 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 63.5% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $27,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $25,328/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $25,620/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $28,722/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $31,013/yr |
| $110,001+ | $34,560/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other. | Master | $84,653 | |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Doctoral | $72,274 | $97,000 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | Master | $71,854 | |
| Education, Other. | Doctoral | $69,338 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $69,023 | $27,000 |
| Chemical Engineering. | Bachelor | $67,660 | $27,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor | $66,029 | $26,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor | $63,275 | $27,000 |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies. | Master | $60,320 | |
| Civil Engineering. | Bachelor | $59,640 | $26,998 |
The Risk Factor
63.5% of students at Widener University graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 37% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Widener's numbers work if you pick the right major. At just over $30,000 a year net, you're paying private-school prices, and the median graduate earns enough a decade out to justify that spend with a median debt load of $27,000. That debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable, but it hinges entirely on what you study.
Nursing and engineering are where Widener pays off. Nursing tops the list, which fits the school's location outside Philadelphia, a metro area dense with hospitals and health systems that hire steadily. Chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineering all clear $63,000, and the Chester and greater Philadelphia industrial base gives those degrees local demand. Civil engineering trails the pack near $59,600, still solid but the weakest of the engineering options here.
The risk is that these five strong programs are all technical or clinical. If you enroll intending to major in something outside nursing or engineering, you're paying the same $30,000-plus a year without the earnings data to back it up. Widener's 63.5% graduation rate is the other concern: roughly a third of students don't finish in the tracked window, and dropping out with debt and no degree is the worst outcome here.
The net price barely moves by income. A family under $30,000 pays about $25,300, while a family over $110,000 pays $34,560. That's only a $9,000 spread across the entire income range, so lower-income families get limited relief here compared to schools with steeper aid curves. If money is tight, run the actual aid offer before committing.
Widener is a good fit if you're set on nursing or engineering and plan to work in the Philadelphia region. If you're undecided or drawn to lower-earning fields, the price is hard to defend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Widener University worth the high tuition cost?
With a net price of $30,470 annually and 10-year median earnings of $70,920, Widener's ROI is below average for private universities. The school's 63.5% graduation rate means over one-third of students don't finish their degree.
What are the best paying majors at Widener University?
Business, Management, and Marketing programs lead with $84,653 median earnings, followed by Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at $72,274. These programs offer the strongest financial returns compared to the cost of attendance.
How much debt do Widener University graduates typically have?
Widener graduates carry a median debt of $27,000, which is manageable compared to many private schools. However, this assumes you graduate - the 63.5% completion rate means many students leave with debt but no degree.
Does Widener University provide good value compared to other Pennsylvania schools?
Widener's 87.7% acceptance rate and average SAT scores suggest it serves students who might struggle to get into higher-ranked schools. The earnings outcomes are modest for the price, making it a questionable value unless you're in one of the top-paying programs.