Students at Wilkes University achieve earnings that place the institution in the top quarter nationally, reflecting the university's focus on professional programs with clear career outcomes.
The combination of strong overall earnings and particularly solid results for low-income students demonstrates Wilkes' ability to deliver meaningful economic mobility through targeted professional preparation.
Wilkes University is a small private institution in Pennsylvania that delivers above-average earnings outcomes for graduates, with median 10-year earnings of $63,454 placing it in the 74th percentile nationally. Located in Wilkes-Barre, this university serves about 30% Pell Grant recipients and 35% first-generation students, though access levels remain more limited than at typical public institutions. What distinguishes Wilkes is its focus on professional programs that lead directly to stable careers, particularly in nursing and engineering fields.
The university's strength lies in its ability to prepare students for specific career paths with strong earning potential. Nursing programs dominate the academic landscape, producing 96 graduates annually with median earnings of $65,035, while engineering and business programs also provide solid returns. As a "Selective Achievers" institution, Wilkes delivers strong outcomes for the students it enrolls, though it serves a more limited range of economic backgrounds compared to broader-access institutions.
For families who can manage private university costs, Wilkes offers the advantages of small class sizes, direct professional preparation, and outcomes that consistently exceed what graduates earn at many larger institutions. The university's focus on healthcare, engineering, and business creates clear pathways into stable, growing fields.
Wilkes University's program portfolio centers on professional preparation with clear career pathways, led by a dominant nursing program that combines high enrollment with excellent financial outcomes. Adult Health Nursing graduates 96 students annually with median earnings of $65,035, making it both the university's largest program and its strongest financial performer. This concentration in healthcare reflects regional workforce needs and provides students with direct entry into a stable, growing field with strong earning potential.
Business Administration and Management enrolls 51 students annually with more modest median earnings of $39,585, while Mechanical Engineering produces another 51 graduates earning $53,219. These programs represent Wilkes' core academic offerings, each designed around specific career outcomes rather than broad liberal arts exploration. The engineering program particularly benefits from the university's small size, allowing for hands-on learning and direct faculty mentorship that larger institutions often cannot provide.
The university's focused approach means students choose Wilkes specifically for professional preparation rather than academic exploration. This concentration creates advantages in industry connections, internship opportunities, and job placement, helping explain why graduates consistently achieve earnings that place the institution well above national averages despite its small size and regional location.
Wilkes University graduates achieve solid long-term financial outcomes, with median earnings of $63,454 ten years after enrollment, placing the institution in the 74th percentile nationally for graduate earnings. This performance reflects the university's concentration in professional fields that lead directly to stable, well-paying careers. The university's loan repayment rates are strong, with about 81% of borrowers successfully repaying their federal loans, indicating that graduates generally earn enough to manage their educational debt effectively.
The strongest returns come from the university's flagship nursing program, which graduates 96 students annually with median earnings of $65,035 ten years out. This program represents Wilkes' largest and most successful academic offering, combining high enrollment with excellent financial outcomes. Mechanical Engineering also delivers strong results, with 51 graduates earning a median of $53,219, while Business Administration and Management, though producing lower median earnings of $39,585, remains popular with 51 graduates annually.
Wilkes' professional focus creates clear advantages for students who know they want to enter healthcare, engineering, or business fields. The university's small size allows for personalized attention and direct industry connections, which helps explain why graduates consistently achieve earnings that place the institution well above average nationally. Students benefit from programs designed around specific career outcomes rather than broad liberal arts exploration.
Affordability at Wilkes University reflects typical private university pricing, with net costs that are significantly higher than public alternatives but include substantial financial aid for many students. Low-income students pay about $23,760 annually after aid, while middle-income families face costs around $26,339, and high-income families pay approximately $31,745. These prices place Wilkes in the 18th percentile nationally for affordability, meaning costs run higher than at most comparable institutions.
Despite higher upfront costs, the university's financial aid system provides meaningful support, particularly for students from lower-income backgrounds. The relatively modest difference between net prices across income bands suggests that Wilkes uses institutional aid to make attendance more feasible for families who might otherwise be priced out of private education. The university's focus on professional programs also means students are investing in degrees with clear career pathways and earning potential.
For families considering Wilkes, the key affordability question is whether the premium for private education and small class sizes justifies the higher costs compared to public alternatives. The university's strong graduate earnings and professional program focus provide a reasonable foundation for that investment, particularly for students committed to nursing, engineering, or business careers where the direct preparation and industry connections can accelerate career development.
Wilkes University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
