Wilkes-Barre, PAprivate nonprofitwww.kings.edu/
King's College in Wilkes-Barre, PA, is a small, moderately selective Catholic liberal arts college with a 93% acceptance rate and a focus on undergraduate teaching. Known for its walkable campus and strong faculty (92% hold terminal degrees), it offers a mix of traditional majors like elementary education and marketing alongside niche programs like neuroscience. The college provides generous financial aid, with 86% of first-year students receiving need-based awards averaging $34,072.
King's College is moderately selective, with a 93.1% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. (3,012 admissions from 3,235 applications in 2024). Half of admitted students who submitted test scores fall between 1070-1270 on the SAT. The school describes its entrance difficulty as 'moderately difficult,' though some sources characterize it as 'nearly open admissions.' The most common race/ethnicity among students is white, though specific demographic breakdowns aren't provided in the available sources.
King's emphasizes undergraduate teaching, with 92% of faculty holding terminal degrees and 60% tenured. Popular majors include elementary education (5%), marketing (5%), psychology (4%), neuroscience (3%), and biology (data doesn't specify percentage for biology). The college has been recognized by Money Magazine as one of America's Best Colleges for 2025. While the exact number of programs isn't specified in available sources, the curriculum blends traditional liberal arts with career-focused fields.
The college describes its campus as 'attractive, safe, and exclusively walkable,' fostering a strong sense of community. About 46% of students live in college housing, while 54% commute. Student reviews suggest social life may be quieter compared to larger universities, with one Reddit comment noting it's 'not super social.' The college offers traditional NCAA sports (division not specified) and promotes extracurriculars through unspecified clubs and organizations. Instagram posts highlight student ambassador programs as engagement opportunities.
The college reports a 60% graduation rate, with median earnings of $67,122 for alumni—above the $60,377 midpoint for four-year colleges. Specific employment rates aren't provided, but one source notes average salaries around $56,371 for graduates. The college has shown improvement in graduation rates, with a 2.82 percentage point increase from 2008-2018 according to one study. Financial outcomes vary by income bracket, with higher-income students projected to pay around $30,865 annually.
King's is relatively generous with financial aid—86% of first-year students receive need-based awards averaging $34,072. The college encourages all students to apply for aid, offering scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculators estimate costs ranging from $30,865 for higher-income families to lower amounts for middle-income students (exact figures vary by calculator). The school emphasizes that cost estimates don't represent final aid determinations.
King's distinguishes itself through its balance of accessibility (93% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants.) and academic rigor (highly credentialed faculty). The walkable campus creates an intimate environment where 92% of faculty hold terminal degrees—unusual for a college of its selectivity. Its Catholic identity informs campus culture without dominating academics. While not as research-intensive as larger universities, it provides strong outcomes (median $67,122 earnings) at a relatively affordable Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. for many students through generous aid programs.