Head-to-head comparison
Widener University vs Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre: which has better ROI?
Option A Chester, PA
Widener University
- Net price / year
- $25,759
- Earnings, 10 years
- $70,920
- Payback
- 4.6 yrs
Option B Dallas, PA
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre
- Net price / year
- $16,448
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,435
- Payback
- 4.4 yrs
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $65,792 in 4.4 years versus 4.6 years at Widener University, on median earnings of $63,435 vs $70,920 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Widener University | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,759 | $16,448 |
| Total net cost | $103,036 | $65,792 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $70,920 | $63,435 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 4.6 yrs | 4.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $348,164 | $235,708 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Widener University or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre, at $16,448 a year after aid versus $25,759 — a gap of $9,311 a year, or $37,244 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 Widener University or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates earn more?
Widener University graduates report a median $70,920 ten years after entry, $7,485 more than the $63,435 at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre. 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, Widener University or Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre?
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Widener University, a difference of $2,000. 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?
68% of students finish at Widener University, against 23% at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre. 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.