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Downtown Wilkes Barre along the Susquehanna RiverPhoto: Umrok · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Wilkes-Barre

Wilkes-Barre is home to two colleges, with 3,893 students on campus

Wilkes University (2,185 students on campus) and King's College (1,708) are inside the city. About 10% of Wilkes-Barre’s residents are enrolled in college, above Pennsylvania (6%).

King's College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Wilkes-Barre. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
5
9,765 students on campus
Nearest college
0.3 mi
King's College
Residents in college
10%
Above PA (6%)
Nearest community college
7 mi
Luzerne County · $6,600 tuition
Nearest public university
8.4 mi
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre · $14,280 in-state
Median household income
$49K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Wilkes-Barre

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college in Wilkes-BarreKing's College has 1,708 students on campus in Wilkes-Barre, 60% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 7 miles awayLuzerne County Community College in Nanticoke: tuition and fees $6,600 a year for Pennsylvania residents.In-state price at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-BarreLiving in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre charges $14,280 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $24,006. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 10% of residentsAbove Pennsylvania (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Wilkes-Barre

Three private colleges within 8.4 miles, one public college within 8.4 miles, and Luzerne County Community College 7 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miLuzerne CountyWilkes UniversityMisericordia UniversityWilkes-Barre
University or collegeCommunity college
King's CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,708 on campus · In Wilkes-Barre93%admitted$23knet price60%graduate$59kearningsWilkes UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,185 on campus · In Wilkes-Barre · mostly online91%admitted$28knet price63%graduate$63kearnings58% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Luzerne County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,643 on campus · 7 mi · Nanticoke$9knet price23%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $6,600 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Misericordia UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,884 on campus · 8.4 mi · Dallas71%admitted$37knet price72%graduate$64kearningsPennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-BarreUniversity or college · Public · 345 on campus · 8.4 mi · Dallas97%admitted$16knet price23%graduate$63kearningsEarnings are reported for all 22 campuses that file with it.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Wilkes-Barre’s median household income ($48,515) falls.

Luzerne County Community College7 mi · Nanticoke · sticker $14,499 · tuition $6,600$10,358a year
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre8.4 mi · Dallas · sticker $25,994$15,570a year
King's CollegeIn Wilkes-Barre · sticker $57,973$19,692a year
Wilkes UniversityIn Wilkes-Barre · mostly online · sticker $56,765$26,432a year
Misericordia University8.4 mi · Dallas · sticker $53,648$36,848a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Wilkes-Barre: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →King's CollegeWilkes UniversityLuzerne CountyMisericordia UniversityPennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Luzerne County Community College23% graduate$40k earnings$11k typical debt
Wilkes University63% graduate$63k earnings$26k typical debt
Misericordia University72% graduate$64k earnings$27k typical debt
King's College60% graduate$59k earnings$27k typical debt
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre23% graduate$63k earnings*$25k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre (22).

Majors

What students study in Wilkes-Barre

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at King's College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 29%Health professions 21%Parks & recreation 8%Public safety 7%Education 6%Biology 4%Everything else 25%

Biggest programs

Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other71 graduates a year
$129k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations69 graduates a year
$63k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services54 graduates a year
$78k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections34 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Biology, General22 graduates a year
$64k4 yrs out
Psychology, General19 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out
Marketing17 graduates a year
$69k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods14 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: Wilkes University, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Wilkes-Barre

Is Wilkes-Barre a college town?

No. About 10 of every 100 Wilkes-Barre residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Pennsylvania (6). The largest campus in the city, Wilkes University, has 2,185 students on campus.

What colleges are in Wilkes-Barre?

Wilkes University and King's College are inside the city. Luzerne County Community College is 7 miles away in Nanticoke.

What is the closest community college to Wilkes-Barre, and what does it cost?

Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke, 7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,600 a year for Pennsylvania residents; the federal net price, $9,433, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre cost if we live in Pennsylvania?

Tuition and fees are $14,280 a year in-state and $24,006 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,795 (under $30,000 income) to $22,027 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Wilkes-Barre. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →