Widener University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Widener University is a private research university in Chester, Pennsylvania, serving roughly 2,951 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 70.93% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $70,920 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $55,730
- 2024 Average Net Price: $25,759 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 70.93% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 2,951 94.1% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 68.32%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
- First-Generation Students: 30.0%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 3.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 3.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 39.5%
- Average SAT Score: 1180
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,205
- Applicants (IPEDS): 7,167
- Room & Board: $16,530 annual estimate
Widener University: what the data shows
Common questions about Widener University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Widener University?
Widener University is located in Chester, PA (ZIP 19013-5792).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is Widener University public or private?
Widener University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Widener University cost?
Published tuition: $55,730.
Average net price after aid: $25,759.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $21,200 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $22,275 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $22,514 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $25,900 |
| $110,001+ | $32,296 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $222,920.
How hard is it to get into Widener University?
Admission rate: 70.93%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1180.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Widener University?
Total enrollment: 2,951 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 3,205 students.
Graduate enrollment: 2,738 students.
About 94% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Widener University?
150%-time completion rate: 68.32%.
First-year retention: 78.4%.
What do graduates of Widener University earn?
Median earnings: $63,375 six years after entry; $70,920 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $27,000.
32.80% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Widener University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Law (290 completions)
- Social Work (207 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (198 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (67 completions)
- Clinical Psychology (66 completions)
- Psychology, General (45 completions)
- Public Health Education and Promotion (44 completions)
- Physical Therapy/Therapist (32 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (28 completions)
- Medical/Health Management and Clinical Assistant/Specialist (28 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Widener University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 70.93%; completion rate 68.32%; median earnings $70,920 at 10 years; net price $25,759. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$55,730
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Widener University was $55,730.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$25,759
2024 Value
In 2024 Widener University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $25,759.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$103,036 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$25,759 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$222,920 4-Year Tuition
$16,530 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,408 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$73,668 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$294,672 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Widener University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
32.80% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
71.65% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Widener University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Widener University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $38,028 | $38,028 | $27,387 |
| 2014 | $39,830 | $39,830 | $27,188 |
| 2015 | $41,224 | $41,224 | $26,937 |
| 2016 | $42,870 | $42,870 | $27,792 |
| 2017 | $44,166 | $44,166 | $30,017 |
| 2018 | $45,948 | $45,948 | $31,305 |
| 2019 | $47,328 | $47,328 | $31,345 |
| 2020 | $48,575 | $48,575 | $31,792 |
| 2021 | $49,706 | $49,706 | $24,012 |
| 2022 | $51,639 | $51,639 | $31,703 |
| 2023 | $53,638 | $53,638 | $30,470 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
70.93% Acceptance Rate
7,167 Total Applicants
6,022 Students Admitted
894 First-Time Students Enrolled
14.85% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1180
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Widener University reported total enrollment of about 2,951 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 39% male and 61% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (51.3%), Black or African American (28.6%), and Hispanic or Latino (9.7%). About 32.80% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 30.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
94.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Widener University in 2024 is 2,951 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 3,205 students. Graduate enrollment is about 2,738 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
78.4%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 51.3%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
60.76% 100% Completion Time
68.32% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 60.76% of students graduating from Widener University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Law: 42% male / 58% female
- Social Work: 10% male / 90% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 13% male / 87% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Widener University.
Return on Investment
$27,000 Median Student Debt
$70,920 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
38.07% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
588.30% Return on Investment
3.8 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Widener University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 83 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Law: 290 completions
2. Social Work: 207 completions
3. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 198 completions
4. Business Administration and Management, General: 67 completions
5. Clinical Psychology: 66 completions
6. Psychology, General: 45 completions
7. Public Health Education and Promotion: 44 completions
8. Physical Therapy/Therapist: 32 completions
9. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 28 completions
Most popular programs at Widener University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Widener University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Widener University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 39.5%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $8,979
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $14,606
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Widener University is a private non-profit institution located in Chester, PA, classified as Doctoral/Professional Universities. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Law, Social Work, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. Enrollment is approximately 2,951 students. Student body composition includes White (51.3%), Black or African American (28.6%), Hispanic or Latino (9.7%). The admission rate is 70.93%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1180. The 150%-time completion rate is 68.32%. Approximately 32.80% of students receive Pell Grants. About 30.0% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Professional Universities
Location
Chester, PA 19013-5792
Region: Mid East
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 83 distinct degree programs, Widener University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Widener University located?
Widener University is located in Chester, PA.
What is Widener University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Widener University is 70.9% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 7,167 applicants and 6,022 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Widener University cost?
Reported tuition is $55,730 and average net price is $25,759 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $16,530 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Widener University?
Widener University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 3,205 students, White (51.3%), Black or African American (28.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Widener University?
About 30.0% of students at Widener University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Widener University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Widener University reports midpoint SAT about 1180.
What do graduates of Widener University earn?
Median earnings are $63,375 six years after entry and $70,920 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Widener University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 68.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Widener University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $27,000.
Is Widener University public or private?
Widener University is a private nonprofit institution located in Chester, PA.
Is Widener University an HBCU?
No. Widener University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Widener University a tribal college?
No. Widener University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Pennsylvania college costs
- Pennsylvania colleges by ROI
- Mid East regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Pennsylvania
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.