Widener University

Chester, PA · NortheastQuad's selectivityAccessible

Known forGenerous aidTest-optional heavy

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 11, 2026

Fall 2025 applicants: Test scores recommended (fall 2024: Test-optional)Widener University Common Data Set 2023–24

Source:Widener University Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2025 applicantsAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2024

7 in 10 applicants admitted

Widener admits about 7 in 10 applicants (71%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 62% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

71%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityAccessible

Applied

9,350

Admitted

6,632

Yield

14%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.45

SAT middle 50%

1080–1290

10001600

Applications +70% since fall 2014 · admit rate 65% → 71%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 2,951 undergrads, where 33% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

undergrads · larger than 68% of colleges

Diversity index

0.64

Pell Grant

33%

about the median

First generation

30%

below the median

Large suburbNCAA D-III · Middle Atlantic States Athletic CorporationROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

More diverse · index 0.48 → 0.64 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (29% of graduates). 11 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 68% of colleges. 39% of faculty are full-time. Spends $14,606 a year on instruction per student.

11 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 68% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $28,858 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $4.6K more than the national median. The 100% who received grants paid $26,778 on average; the other 0% paid the full sticker price of $72,466.

60%

$28.9K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $4.6K above the national median

Full price: $72,466 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Little need-based aid above $110K; aid thins out for families above that income
Merit aid: 14% · avg $37K; of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)

Aid generosity

Very generous

grants cover 60% of full price

Federal loans

72%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −29% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $70,920 ten years after enrolling, more than at 84% of colleges; 66% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.6 years of that salary.

66%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$70.9K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$27K

≈ $286/month for 10 years

Retention

78%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 53% → 68% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 2% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 29%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 70% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 65% to 71%.

Cost
Falling
−29% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+70%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 65% → 71%
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.48 → 0.64

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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Cumberland University

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77% admit · 3.6K undergrads

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
Widener University Common Data Set 2023–24
Widener University · Fall 2023; Fall 2025 applicants; 2023–24; Fall 2024 entrants; Fall 2024 cycle; 2024–25 · retrieved 2026-10-11
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
19
Widener University (2026)
Widener University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 216852 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything