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Saint Davids, PA · Wilkes-Barre, PA
| Eastern University | Wilkes University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $26,662/yr | $27,743/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $26,557/yr | $25,062/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $25,000 | $26,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $22,232/yr | $23,440/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $23,373/yr | $26,432/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $25,963/yr | $27,843/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $32,353/yr | $31,638/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $265/mo | $276/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $13,498/yr | $16,166/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $12,608/yr | $10,280/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,312/yr | $400/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $4,068/yr | $3,193/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $55,001/yr | $56,765/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $38,400/yr | $43,496/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $38,400/yr | $43,496/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 42% | 34% |
| Students taking federal loans | 57% | 72% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 91% | 91% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 1020–1250 |
| SAT average | No data reported | 1136 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 22–29 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | No data reported | English 20–31 · Math 21–29 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 2,852 | 6,414 |
| Students accepted | 2,670 | 5,866 |
| Students who enrolled | 503 | 513 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 19% | 8.8% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 1% | 27% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 1% | 2% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Not considered |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 54% | 63% |
| Freshmen who come back | 65% | 72% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $51,655/yr | $63,454/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $32,081–$74,621 | $42,451–$95,134 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 57% | 61% |
| White students graduating | 64% | 68% |
| Black students graduating | 49% | 36% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 41% | 37% |
| Asian students graduating | 50% | 73% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $41,580/yr | $54,128/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 72% | 82% |
| Graduate on time | 50% | 54% |
| Pell students who graduate | 48% | 53% |
| First-gen students who finish | 45% | 59% |
| Low-income students who finish | 34% | 45% |
| Students who transfer out | 11% | 25% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $47,074/yr | $64,570/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 14% · Liberal Arts & General Studies 13% · Health Professions 12% | Business, Management & Marketing 24% · Health Professions 16% · Engineering 10% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 14% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 24% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 13% of degrees | Health Professions — 16% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Health Professions — 12% of degrees | Engineering — 10% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Family & Consumer Sciences — 11% of degrees | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Education — 10% of degrees | Education — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $83,733/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $150,107/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 6.9% | 16% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 2,404 | 1,985 |
| Students per professor | 21 : 1 | 13 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 6,227 | 3,305 |
| Average professor pay | $5,855/mo | $9,848/mo |
| Full-time professors | 27% | 39% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
| Median family income | $36,522 | $62,518 |
| Setting | Suburb (large) | City (small) |
| Location | Saint Davids, PA | Wilkes-Barre, PA |
| Region | Mid East | Mid East |
| Founded | 1925 | 1933 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Doctoral/Professional Universities |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 4.5% | 8.4% |
| Men | 37% | 48% |
| Women | 63% | 52% |
| White students | 41% | 66% |
| Black students | 27% | 6% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 17% | 12% |
| Asian students | 2.1% | 3% |
| Two or more races | 3.6% | 3.6% |
| Other / not reported | 4.6% | 1.2% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | None |
| First-generation students | 36% | 35% |
| Part-time students | 30% | 4.6% |
| Students age 25+ | 31% | 7.4% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $4,064/yr | $11,892/yr |
| Endowment | $34.0M | $67.2M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 960 | 1,135 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $7,006/yr | $9,680/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $6,162/yr | $6,630/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 21 meals/week | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | American Baptist | No data reported |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | Yes — Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | No | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III with football | NCAA Division III with football |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 18 | 23 |
| Student athletes | 643 | 503 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $4.9M | $5.3M |
| Athletics revenue | $5.6M | $5.3M |
| Recruiting spend | $110,487 | $93,918 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.