Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education

What Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education does

Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education is the continuing education and non-degree division of Penn State Wilkes-Barre, a regional campus of The Pennsylvania State University located on a historic 1916 estate in Dallas, PA, 13 miles west of Wilkes-Barre. The campus serves approximately 350 students through seven bachelor's degree programs (Business, Corporate Communication, Criminal Justice, Electrical Engineering Technology, Information Technology, Rehabilitation & Human Services, and Surveying Engineering), four associate degree programs, the 2+2 transfer plan that funnels students to University Park, and a portfolio of continuing education offerings including professional certification preparation, customized workforce training (delivered in partnership with Penn State Scranton's Center for Business Development and Community Outreach), youth programs such as SAT prep and summer camps, and personal enrichment courses. Entrepreneurship support is delivered through the Wilkes-Barre LaunchBox under Penn State Invent.

The underlying technology infrastructure is the standard Penn State enterprise stack: Canvas LMS for course delivery, LionPATH student information system, Microsoft Office365, Kaltura media streaming, Nesbitt Library digital resources with access to 4.4 million Penn State-wide volumes, and 24/7 IT support — no proprietary or differentiated technology is built or owned at the campus level. Operations are supported by 15 staff and 42 faculty with a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio and average class size of 11.

The business model combines tuition and fees (set annually by the Penn State Board of Trustees in July and varying by residency, campus, and program), financial aid flows (91% of students received assistance in 2023), private donations supporting 70+ scholarship funds and over $1 million in annual awards, and continuing education course fees for professional development and corporate training. Critically, the campus has announced it will not enroll new students after fall 2025 and will close after the 2026-27 academic year, making this a defined-trajectory wind-down rather than a growth entity.

Name

Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education

Legal name

The Pennsylvania State University

Website

https://wilkesbarre.psu.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1916

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education is the non-degree division of Penn State's Dallas, PA regional campus, serving working professionals, youth, local employers, and entrepreneurs through professional development courses, certification prep, corporate training, and the Wilkes-Barre LaunchBox.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Continuing Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (611210), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG), Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ), Youth-to-Adult Bridge & College Readiness (Noncredit) (EDAAAEAK)

Keywords

• Continuing education
• Professional development
• Corporate training
• Workforce training
• Youth programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition and Fees: Tuition and fees set annually by Penn State Board of Trustees in July; rates vary by campus, student level, program, and residency status (in-state vs out-of-state). Revenue supports academic programs, student services, and campus operations.
2. Financial Aid: 91% of students received financial assistance in 2023, determined primarily by need, comprising federal and state grants, student loans, academic scholarships, and work study. Campus awarded over $1 million in scholarships and awards in 2022.
3. Continuing Education Programs: Non-credit training courses, professional certification preparation programs, Penn State non-credit or credit certificates, graduate-level courses, and customized corporate training for businesses. Revenue from professional development and workforce training services.
4. Private Donations and Fundraising: Donations from alumni and community supporters; 85% of students qualify for need-based financial aid with average unmet annual need of $11,000; fundraising campaigns support student scholarships and campus programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education offers non-degree continuing education, professional development, corporate training, and youth programs to adult learners, working professionals, regional employers, and families in northeastern Pennsylvania. It operates as a small regional campus of Penn State with a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio and is in the process of winding down new enrollments as the campus prepares to close after the 2026-27 academic year.

Product overview

Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services. The institution provides seven bachelor's degree programs (Business, Corporate Communication, Criminal Justice, Electrical Engineering Technology, Information Technology, Rehabilitation & Human Services, Surveying Engineering) and four associate degree programs (Business Administration, Information Sciences & Technology, Multidisciplinary Studies, Surveying Engineering Technology) that can be completed on campus or through the 2+2 transfer plan. Continuing Education divisions offer professional development courses, corporate training, youth programs, and personal enrichment. The Wilkes-Barre LaunchBox supports entrepreneurship. Note: Penn State Wilkes-Barre will not enroll new students after fall 2025 and will close after the 2026-27 academic year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Continuing Education Programs Non-degree continuing education courses for adult learners seeking skill upgrades and credentialed professional development through the Penn State brand.
• Professional Development Courses Short, targeted courses designed to help working professionals build skills and earn recognized credentials for career advancement.
• Corporate Training Customized training programs delivered to regional employers to upskill their workforce, leveraging Penn State faculty and curriculum.
• Youth Programs Enrichment and seasonal programs for school-age youth, leveraging Penn State faculty and campus facilities for educational experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of students received financial assistance (2023)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Center for Business Development and Community Outreach (Penn State Scranton)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProfessionals from Penn State Scranton's Center for Business Development and Community Outreach work with businesses to understand strategic objectives and create customized training programs. This partnership enables Penn State Wilkes-Barre to offer workforce development and corporate training services to local employers without maintaining separate training infrastructure.
• Wilkes-Barre LaunchBox (Penn State Invent)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Penn State's statewide LaunchBox network under Penn State Invent; provides aspiring entrepreneurs educational resources, technical support, and expertise to start and grow businesses; collaborates with local school districts and community organizations; funded through Penn State's land-grant mission and economic development initiatives.
• Penn State Regional Extension Office (Luzerne County)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership connecting the campus with Penn State Extension services for Luzerne County; provides agricultural, 4-H youth development, and community development resources to the local community; exemplifies the land-grant university's commitment to community education and outreach.
• Arts at HayfieldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts programming organization utilizing Hayfield House and campus facilities for cultural events, performances, and community arts activities; brings cultural enrichment opportunities to the campus and local community through collaborative programming.
• Lehman Township PoliceminorOthersCampus Police and Public Safety maintains a cooperative relationship with Lehman Township Police and Pennsylvania State Police for law enforcement support, criminal investigations (particularly serious incidents), and emergency response coordination.
• Penn State Hazleton (Athletics)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurrent Penn State Wilkes-Barre students wishing to participate in intra-collegiate athletics can do so through Penn State Hazleton, as the Wilkes-Barre campus no longer hosts competitive athletics teams given the impending campus closure after the 2026-2027 academic year.
• Penn State Scranton (Athletics)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurrent Penn State Wilkes-Barre students wishing to participate in intra-collegiate athletics can do so through Penn State Scranton, providing athletic continuation opportunities during the campus transition period.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Penn State Hazleton: Sister Penn State Commonwealth Campus offering similar two-year and four-year undergraduate programs with comparable small-campus characteristics; current Wilkes-Barre students route athletics to this campus, indicating direct operational comparability.
• Penn State Scranton: Sister Penn State Commonwealth Campus and operational partner that delivers Wilkes-Barre's customized corporate training through its Center for Business Development and Community Outreach; offers directly comparable degree programs and student services.
• Penn State Lehigh Valley: Sister Penn State Commonwealth Campus with similar 2+2 plan, small-class-size model, and continuing education offerings; comparable scale and target student population in a different Pennsylvania region.
• Penn State Berks: Sister Penn State Commonwealth Campus offering similar mix of associate and bachelor's degree programs, continuing education, and 2+2 transfer pathways in southeastern Pennsylvania.
• Penn State Brandywine: Sister Penn State Commonwealth Campus in the Philadelphia suburbs offering comparable small-campus undergraduate and continuing education programming under the same Penn State system.
• Luzerne County Community College: Local community college in the same Luzerne County catchment area, offering associate degrees and workforce training directly competing for the same traditional undergraduate and adult learner segments.

Regional players

• Wilkes University: Private university in Wilkes-Barre, PA serving the same regional student population with comparable undergraduate and continuing education programs; differs as a private institution versus Penn State's public land-grant model.
• King's College: Private Catholic college in Wilkes-Barre serving the same Northeast Pennsylvania market with undergraduate degrees and continuing professional education offerings comparable to those offered at Wilkes-Barre.
• Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (Bloomsburg): Recently consolidated Pennsylvania State System university with comparable undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs serving overlapping regional student populations in northeastern and central Pennsylvania.

Emerging players

• Penn State World Campus: Penn State's online learning arm offering degree and certificate programs; referenced as an alternative path for Wilkes-Barre-area learners and a channel for continuing education delivery, competing for the same working-professional segment digitally.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUNr5sTs49pNNyVF3TzPMVg
• Facebookfacebook.com/271630959545659
• Instagraminstagram.com/psuwilkesbarre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education