Wilkes University
Wilkes University is a private, non-denominational institution in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania offering undergraduate, graduate, and online programs across business, nursing, pharmacy, creative writing, and engineering to a diverse student body including first-generation and veteran learners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1933
- HeadquartersWilkes Barre, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Wilkes University does
Wilkes University is a private, non-denominational higher education institution founded in 1933 and headquartered on a 35-acre campus in downtown Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It serves traditional undergraduates, graduate and working-professional students, first-generation learners, and military veterans through on-campus, hybrid, and fully online modalities across four named academic units: the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership (AACSB-accredited), the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy, the Passan School of Nursing (CCNE-accredited), and the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing. The university holds institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and programmatic accreditation from ABET for select engineering programs, and is a member of NC-SARA for reciprocity across U.S. distance-education jurisdictions.
The institution generates primary revenue from tuition and fees, supplemented by philanthropic donations and corporate sponsorships through the annual Founders Gala, which has raised over $4.5 million since 2014 for the First Generation Scholarship Fund. Go-to-market mixes direct-to-consumer recruiting (campus visits, virtual tours, information sessions) with sales-led outreach for graduate programs and an event-driven approach for new initiatives such as the April 2026 AI Summit. Its technology stack is primarily composed of third-party platforms — Handshake for career services, Big Interview for mock interview practice, and Google Gemini and Coursera via the AI for Education Accelerator partnership — rather than proprietary systems. Recent strategic actions include the Google AI partnership (March 2026), the appointment of James Cousins as the 8th President (June 2026), and the disclosure of a 2025 cybersecurity incident affecting tens of thousands of individuals, all of which frame the institution's near-term strategic agenda.
Wilkes University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wilkes University
- Legal name
- Wilkes University
- Website
- https://wilkes.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1933
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Wilkes University is a private, non-denominational institution in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania offering undergraduate, graduate, and online programs across business, nursing, pharmacy, creative writing, and engineering to a diverse student body including first-generation and veteran learners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wilkes University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)
Keywords
Where Wilkes University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wilkes Barre
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Wilkes University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Wilkes University generates primary revenue from tuition and fees for undergraduate and graduate programs, including online and on-campus offerings. The university offers financial aid, merit scholarships, and has a 98% job/graduate school placement rate.
- Donations and Philanthropy: The Founders Gala raises money for First Generation Scholarship Fund, with this year's gala raising in excess of $300,000 and cumulative total of over $4.5 million since 2014.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Annual Founders Gala supported by corporate sponsors including Customers Bank, Black Horse Foundation, Aramark, Geisinger, PNC Bank, and others at various sponsorship levels.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | MBA Program - 30 credit hours, can be completed in as little as one year |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Creative Writing MA/MFA Application Fee |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Bierly Fellowship - Experiential Learning Funding |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Wilkes University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wilkes University is a private higher education institution that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education degree programs in business administration, creative writing, nursing, pharmacy, education, and engineering. Programs are offered on-campus, fully online, and in hybrid formats (including low-residency MA/MFA in Creative Writing), supported by AACSB, ABET, CCNE, and Middle States accreditations. Revenue is generated from tuition, fees, donations, and corporate sponsorships.
Product overview
Wilkes University is a private higher education institution offering a portfolio of academic programs and student services. The core academic offerings include graduate degree programs in business administration (MBA), creative writing (MA/MFA), engineering management, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering. These programs are delivered through various modalities including traditional on-campus, fully online, and hybrid formats. The university supplements its academic offerings with student support services including the Center for Career Development and Internships, mentorship programs, the Wilkes Shield safety mobile application, and experiential learning funding through the Bierly Fellowship and WilkesEDGE first-year transition program. The Creative Writing program maintains partnerships with publishing houses and film companies for student internships and publishing opportunities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WilkesEDGE: Educational Gateway to Excellence program designed to help select students transition from high school to college with reduced course loads, increased advisement, and support services during their first year.
- Bierly Fellowship
- Career Gateway Program
- Wilkes Shield
Products and services
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) AACSB-accredited Master of Business Administration program offered on campus or fully online with accelerated seven-week sessions. Designed for working professionals pursuing leadership roles, with stackable certificate options and a 4+1 combined bachelor's/MBA pathway. Three in five graduates hold manager-or-higher positions.
- Low Residency MA/MFA in Creative Writing Low-residency graduate creative writing program in which students complete coursework online between twice-yearly in-person residencies on the Wilkes campus. Concentrations include fiction, creative nonfiction, playwriting, screenwriting, poetry, and publishing. Each thesis is read by working agents, editors, publishers, or producers. Ranked #3 by Best Colleges and #4 by College Choice for online creative writing graduate programs.
- Engineering Management MS Master of Science in Engineering Management blending engineering expertise with business acumen from the Sidhu School of Business. Designed for working professionals and delivered in a hybrid format with face-to-face engineering classes and online business courses.
- Mechanical Engineering MS Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering with project-based courses and hands-on technical experience in robotics, automation, energy, manufacturing, and product development. Delivered using state-of-the-art Mark Engineering Center facilities.
- Electrical Engineering MS Master of Science in Electrical Engineering applying advanced mathematical and physical principles to electronic and computer-based devices and systems. Topics include communications systems, digital systems, microelectronics, microwaves, power systems, and software engineering. ABET-accredited.
- Graduate Education Programs (Nursing and Education) Online and on-campus graduate programs in nursing (including online DNP) and education, designed for working professionals. The Passan School of Nursing is CCNE-accredited and Pennsylvania Board of Nursing approved; programs address the nursing faculty shortage and offer flexible online options.
Quantifiable outcome
- 98% job/graduate school placement rate
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Wilkes University
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Wilkes University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
AI capability2 records
Feature1 record
Wilkes University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Google (AI for Education Accelerator)coreWilkes University partnered with Google through the AI for Education Accelerator program, granting students, faculty, and staff free access to Google AI tools such as Gemini and Coursera certification courses. Wilkes was selected as part of Google's broader global investment of over $1 billion in AI education and workforce development. The university will host an AI Summit to further introduce emerging AI opportunities.
- Etruscan PresscoreNon-profit literary publishing company housed in Creative Writing offices on Wilkes campus. Has produced three National Book Award finalists in poetry. Offers graduate assistantships and internships in publishing to Wilkes students. Named one of four best small presses by AWP in 2021.
- SenArt FilmsminorIndependent film company whose films include the Academy Award-winning 'Fog of War'. Executive producer Robert May moved SenArt's offices into the Creative Writing building in 2009. Creative Writing graduate assistants and interns spent five years researching and assisting in making 'Kids for Cash'.
- Kaylie Jones Books / Akashic BookscoreKaylie Jones Books, an imprint of Akashic Books, founded in 2012 by Wilkes faculty member Kaylie Jones. Supported by Wilkes graduate assistants and interns. Has published two dozen books including works by CW program alumni.
- Blue Moon Plays / HaveScriptsminorOnline publishing company founded by playwright and faculty member Jean Klein. Offers wide range of play scripts to national audience. Program offers graduate internships and assistantships. HaveScripts partner imprint publishes scores of plays and musicals.
- River and South ReviewminorOnline literary journal edited and produced by students of the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing. Publishes new, emerging and seasoned writers.
- HandshakecoreOnline career network connecting Wilkes students with internships and career opportunities. More than 500,000 companies use Handshake to connect with college students. Wilkes students access the platform for job searches, appointments with career professionals, and employer connections.
- The James Jones First Novel Fellowshipminor$12,000 annual prize awarded to emerging writer for first novel in progress. Brought to Wilkes in 1991 by Kaylie Jones. Creative Writing students serve as paid readers and screen entries for annual competition which received over 700 submissions in 2021.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Wilkes University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- La Salle University: Catholic private university in Philadelphia offering comparable graduate programs (MBA, MS, nursing) and competing in the same Northeast PA / Mid-Atlantic recruitment corridor.
- University of Scranton: Jesuit private university also located in northeastern Pennsylvania, with comparable enrollment scale, graduate program mix (MBA, MS), and similar recruitment geography — Wilkes' most direct regional competitor.
- King's College: Catholic private college in Wilkes-Barre itself, competing for the same local student pool with similar program offerings and small-class positioning.
- Misericordia University: Catholic private university in Dallas, Pennsylvania with strong pre-professional programs (nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy) at a comparable scale and price point.
- Drew University: Small private university in Madison, NJ offering a similar portfolio of graduate and undergraduate programs with comparable faculty ratio and tuition model in the Northeast.
- Marywood University: Catholic private university in Scranton, PA competing with Wilkes for graduate and undergraduate students across education, nursing, business, and arts programs in the same regional market.
- Susquehanna University: Private liberal arts university in central Pennsylvania of similar size, with comparable tuition model and a regional recruitment footprint that overlaps Wilkes' territory.
Emerging players
- Western Governors University: Non-profit online-only university offering low-cost competency-based degrees that competes directly with Wilkes' online MBA, nursing, and education graduate programs on price and flexibility.
Broad incumbents
- Southern New Hampshire University: Large online-first university with extensive graduate offerings (MBA, MS, MFA) that competes with Wilkes for working-professional online enrollments at a lower price point.
- Bucknell University: Larger and more selective private university in central Pennsylvania — competes with Wilkes for high-achieving regional students, especially in engineering where Bucknell's brand materially outranks Wilkes.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wilkes University social profiles
Digital presenceWilkes University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
Wilkes University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wilkes University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Wilkes University subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Wilkes University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wilkes University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wilkes University
What does Wilkes University do?
Wilkes University is a private higher education institution that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education degree programs in business administration, creative writing, nursing, pharmacy, education, and engineering. Programs are offered on-campus, fully online, and in hybrid formats (including low-residency MA/MFA in Creative Writing), supported by AACSB, ABET, CCNE, and Middle States accreditations. Revenue is generated from tuition, fees, donations, and corporate sponsorships.
Is Wilkes University a public or private company?
Wilkes University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Wilkes University founded?
Wilkes University was founded in 1933. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Wilkes University based?
Wilkes University is headquartered in Wilkes Barre, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wilkes University make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and Philanthropy and corporate Sponsorships.
Who are Wilkes University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are La Salle University, University of Scranton, King's College, Misericordia University, Drew University, Marywood University and Susquehanna University. Western Governors University is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Southern New Hampshire University and Bucknell University.
Does Wilkes University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wilkes University.
What industry is Wilkes University in?
Wilkes University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHABAA, Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.