Finance and Financial Management Services at Wilkes University

A $41,758 starting salary for a finance degree lands Wilkes University in the bottom 5% nationally—that's roughly $12,000 below the national median and a striking $16,000 below what Pennsylvania finance programs typically deliver. Even among in-state options, this ranks only in the 25th percentile, trailing not just elite schools like Penn and Villanova but also regional competitors. The moderate debt load of $25,091 might seem manageable in isolation, but paired with these earnings, graduates face a debt-to-income ratio of 0.60—meaning they're carrying over half a year's salary in loans while earning substantially less than peers elsewhere.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift with more data, but the gap is too wide to dismiss. When nearby Widener graduates earn 50% more in their first year and Saint Joseph's graduates nearly double these earnings, something fundamental differs in outcomes. For families considering Wilkes specifically for its accessibility (91% admission rate) or regional ties, understand that the finance degree comes with a significant earnings penalty that cheaper state school alternatives or stronger regional privates might avoid.

If your child is set on finance and considering Wilkes, have a serious conversation about whether the specific program reputation and career services justify starting a finance career $16,000 behind the Pennsylvania curve. That deficit takes years to overcome.