Wilkes University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Wilkes University charges a net price of $27,743/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $110,972. Graduates earn a median $63,454 ten years after entry, $15,094/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 7.4 years — a 20-year net return of $190,908, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Wilkes University's 7.4-year payback ranks #655 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 49% of them, and #67 of 169 in Pennsylvania.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $27,743/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $110,972 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $63,454 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $15,094/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $26,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 7.4 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $190,908 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Wilkes University's own numbers. Net price $27,743 × 4 years = $110,972 total. Median earnings $63,454 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $15,094 a year of premium. $110,972 ÷ $15,094 = 7.4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $190,908. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Wilkes University students graduate with?
A median $26,000 in federal loans among completers, or 41% of the $63,454 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Wilkes University students graduate?
63% finish their degree — 37% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $110,972 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $176,146 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Wilkes University expensive compared with other Pennsylvania colleges?
Its $27,743 net price runs $6,002 above the $21,741 median across the 169 Pennsylvania colleges we profile, or $24,008 more across the full degree.