Wilkes University, located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, is a private institution with a student body of over 2,200 undergraduates and more than 2,200 graduate students, including both full- and part-time learners. Established in 1933 as a satellite campus of Bucknell University, Wilkes became an independent college in 1947. It was named Wilkes College to honour English radical politician John Wilkes, after whom the city of Wilkes-Barre is also named.
The institution achieved university status in January 1990 and is now classified among "Doctoral/Professional Universities" (D/PU). Wilkes University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The university's mascot is a colonel, and its official colours are blue and yellow. A notable symbol of the campus is the "flying W," a stylized letter "W" recognized by students and alumni alike.
Campus
Most of the academic buildings are situated within a single city block bordered by South River Street, South Franklin Street, South Street, and Northampton Street. The Stark Learning Center (SLC), the largest building on campus, spans 220,000 square feet (20,000 m²) and is located on South River Street. It houses classrooms, laboratories, and office spaces, including facilities for nursing, mathematics, and engineering. In 2018, the Stark Learning Center underwent significant renovations to modernize its infrastructure. Nearby, Breiseth Hall, a three-story building on South Franklin Street, accommodates classrooms and offices for humanities and social sciences, sharing the same block as SLC. Kirby Hall, a renovated mansion once home to Fred Morgan Kirby, now serves as the headquarters for English department offices and classrooms.
The Cohen Science Center, a $35 million project, was designed to support the biology and health sciences, chemistry and biochemistry, and environmental engineering and earth sciences programs. Built to LEED Silver standards for environmental sustainability, the center allows students to monitor energy and water use and assess overall building performance to enhance sustainability studies. The facility also features a rooftop vegetation area, which serves as a greenhouse and helps mitigate rainwater runoff.
What is the Wilkes University US News National Rankings 2025?
The Wilkes University ranks 234 according to the US News National Rankings 2025.
Wilkes University Global Ranking
The University is still awaiting its official rankings from prominent organisations such as QS, Times Higher Education, and US News and World Report. Despite its growing reputation and contributions to academia, the university has not yet been featured in the rankings published by these influential bodies. But it has been ranked at #288 out of 436 national universities of the U.S. News in 2025.
Although the University continues to develop its academic programs and research initiatives, it remains unranked by these major international ranking institutions. The absence of a ranking from QS, Times Higher Education, and US News does not reflect the quality of education or research output but simply indicates that the university has not been formally assessed by these specific agencies.
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Frequently asked questions on Wilkes University Ranking 2025
1: What are the basic admissions requirements?
A: Basic admissions requirements include the following: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with an appropriate major (preferably education for most majors – see specific requirements for the program to which you are applying), Strong undergraduate record, Official transcripts of all undergraduate and any graduate degrees completed, Two recommendations – these may fulfilled by having the recommender complete the Wilkes’ recommendation form or write a letter. Letters must be current and pertain to fitness for graduate study. One recommendation should be from your current supervisor. Most programs also require a copy of your state teaching certificate, but students should refer to the specific requirements for the program to which they desire admission.
2: How long does it take to complete the degree?
A: Satisfactory completion of all requirements for a master’s degree is to be done within six calendar years of date of initial application.