Head-to-head comparison
Temple University vs Wilkes University: which has better ROI?
Option A Philadelphia, PA
Temple University
- Net price / year
- $28,198
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,727
- Payback
- 7.3 yrs
Option B Wilkes-Barre, PA
Wilkes University
- Net price / year
- $27,743
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,454
- Payback
- 7.4 yrs
Temple University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $112,792 in 7.3 years versus 7.4 years at Wilkes University, on median earnings of $63,727 vs $63,454 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Temple University | Wilkes University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,198 | $27,743 |
| Total net cost | $112,792 | $110,972 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $63,727 | $63,454 |
| Median debt | $24,395 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 7.3 yrs | 7.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $194,548 | $190,908 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Temple University or Wilkes University?
Wilkes University, at $27,743 a year after aid versus $28,198 — a gap of $455 a year, or $1,820 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Temple University or Wilkes University graduates earn more?
Temple University graduates report a median $63,727 ten years after entry, $273 more than the $63,454 at Wilkes University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Temple University or Wilkes University?
Temple University: its completers carry a median $24,395 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Wilkes University, a difference of $1,605. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
75% of students finish at Temple University, against 63% at Wilkes University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.