At $27,700/yr net price, Wilkes University graduates earn $63,454/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $29,454/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $27,700 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $110,800 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $63,454/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$29,454/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.8 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 60.3% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $26,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $23,760/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $24,199/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $26,339/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,365/yr |
| $110,001+ | $31,745/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Doctoral | $133,171 | $37,070 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | Doctoral | $110,559 | $66,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $94,408 | $41,390 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Master | $76,460 | |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $68,499 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $65,035 | $24,990 |
| Engineering, General. | Bachelor | $53,984 | $25,662 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor | $53,219 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Master | $53,099 | |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering. | Bachelor | $52,941 | $27,000 |
The Risk Factor
60.3% of students at Wilkes University graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 40% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Wilkes University gives you a solid but unspectacular financial return. You pay a private-college net price and graduate with debt that median earnings comfortably cover, but the payoff depends heavily on what you study. The 60% graduation rate and 73% retention rate mean a real slice of students leave without a degree, and if that's you, the debt stays while the earnings boost disappears.
Computer and Information Sciences pays the best at graduation, clearing enough to service the typical debt load with room to spare. Nursing is the safer bet: strong earnings paired with below-average debt, and northeastern Pennsylvania's hospital demand makes those jobs local and stable. The engineering programs are where the math gets tight. Mechanical and environmental engineering graduates earn under $54,000 while carrying $27,000 in debt, roughly a dollar of debt for every two dollars of first-decade annual earnings. That's a weaker ratio than nursing, so pick engineering here for the field, not the immediate financial edge.
The main risk specific to Wilkes is completion. Four in ten students don't finish in the measured window, and paying private-college prices for an unfinished degree is the worst outcome on this page.
The net price tiers are close to flat. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about $23,760. if it earns over $110,000, you pay $31,745. That $8,000 spread is small, meaning lower-income families don't get the steep discount some private schools offer. Wilkes fits you best if you're heading into nursing or computing and confident you'll graduate. If you're undecided or drawn to the lower-paying engineering tracks, price the debt carefully and compare a cheaper public option first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wilkes University worth the cost for most students?
Wilkes University's ROI depends heavily on your major. Nursing and pharmacy graduates earn well above the national average, but the $27,700 annual net price is steep for a school where 40% of students don't graduate and median earnings are $63,454.
What are the best paying majors at Wilkes University?
Nursing administration leads at $133,171 median earnings, followed by pharmacy at $110,559. These health programs justify the cost, while general computer science graduates earn $68,499, which is decent but not exceptional for the price.
How much debt do Wilkes University students graduate with?
The median debt load is $26,000, which is manageable if you're in nursing or pharmacy but risky for lower-paying majors. With a 60% graduation rate, many students leave with debt but no degree.
Does Wilkes University provide good financial aid?
The net price of $27,700 suggests modest financial aid for most families. This makes Wilkes expensive compared to state schools, so the investment only makes sense for high-earning programs like nursing or pharmacy.