Wilson College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Wilson College charges a net price of $21,741/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $86,964. Median earnings ten years after entry are $43,326, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Wilson College does not clear its cost — it ranks #135 of 169 Pennsylvania colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $21,741/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $86,964 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $43,326 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$5,034/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $26,328 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$187,644 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Wilson College's own numbers. Net price $21,741 × 4 years = $86,964 total. Median earnings $43,326 fall $5,034 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $86,964 bill in about 8.7 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Wilson College students graduate with?
A median $26,328 in federal loans among completers, or 61% of the $43,326 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Wilson College students graduate?
48% finish their degree — 52% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $86,964 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $181,175 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Wilson College expensive compared with other Pennsylvania colleges?
Its $21,741 net price runs $0 above the $21,741 median across the 169 Pennsylvania colleges we profile, or $0 more across the full degree.