Wilkes University Acceptance Rate
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 6,414
- Admitted
- 5,866
- Yield
- 8.7%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Wilkes University's acceptance rate has risen from 78.6% in 2014–15 to 91.5% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 2,812 to 6,414 (+128%) over that period.
Its 91.5% rate makes Wilkes University more selective than about 17% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 108 tracked Pennsylvania schools, it is more selective than about 25%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (94.2% for women vs 89.3% for men, a 4.9-point gap). Wilkes University has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 8.7% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 2,812 | 2,211 | 78.6% | 559 |
| 2015–16 | 3,164 | 2,586 | 81.7% | 584 |
| 2016–17 | 4,245 | 3,223 | 75.9% | 664 |
| 2017–18 | 4,067 | 3,063 | 75.3% | 607 |
| 2018–19 | 3,932 | 2,942 | 74.8% | 650 |
| 2019–20 | 3,756 | 2,953 | 78.6% | 550 |
| 2020–21 | 3,633 | 3,334 | 91.8% | 492 |
| 2021–22 | 4,019 | 3,809 | 94.8% | 556 |
| 2022–23 | 4,798 | 4,517 | 94.1% | 478 |
| 2023–24 | 6,414 | 5,866 | 91.5% | 513 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 2,790 | 2,629 | 94.2% |
| Men | 3,624 | 3,237 | 89.3% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 510–640 | 27% |
| SAT Math | 513–630 | |
| ACT Composite | 20–29 | 2% |
How Wilkes University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Wilkes University's acceptance rate?
Wilkes University's acceptance rate is 91.5% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (5,866 admitted of 6,414 applicants).
Is Wilkes University test optional?
Wilkes University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Wilkes University?
Wilkes University received 6,414 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 5,866.
What SAT score do you need for Wilkes University?
Admitted students at Wilkes University typically scored 510–640 on SAT Reading/Writing and 513–630 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Wilkes University getting harder to get into?
Wilkes University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 78.6% in 2014–15 to 91.5% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: https://www.wilkes.edu/.