Widener University Admissions

Widener University Description:

Widener University is a private comprehensive university located on a 110-acre campus in Chester, Pennsylvania, a small city on the Delaware River about 20 minutes from Philadelphia. The university has additional facilities in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, Delaware. Students can choose from over 40 baccalaureate degree programs and 50 minors. Widener's programs in nursing and hospitality management are highly ranked, and students can choose from a broad spectrum of fields including education, engineering, and traditional majors in the liberal arts and sciences. Academics are supported by a healthy 12 to 1 student / faculty ratio. The university values hand-on learning experiences, and three-quarters of all students participate in internship, volunteer and community service opportunities. The diverse student body comes from 34 states and 26 foreign countries. Campus life is active with over 80 student clubs and organizations including a campus television studio, radio station, and literary journal. The university also has an active Greek scene with six fraternities and five sororities. On the athletic front, the Widener Pride compete in the NCAA Division III MAC Commonwealth Conference. The university fields 10 men's and 11 women's intercollegiate teams. Students interested in a less formal athletic experience can check out Widener's many club sport options including rugby, roller hockey, and kronum.

Admissions Data (2016):

• Percent of Applicants Admitted: 70%
• Test Scores -- 25th / 75th Percentile
  • SAT Critical Reading: 460 / 550
  • SAT Math: 470 / 580
  • SAT Writing: - / -
    • What these SAT numbers mean
  • ACT Composite: 21 / 26
  • ACT English: 20 / 24
  • ACT Math: 20 / 27
    • What these ACT numbers mean

Enrollment (2016):

• Total Enrollment: 6,402 (3,597 undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 44% Male / 56% Female
• 83% Full-time

Costs (2016 - 17):

• Tuition and Fees: $42,870
• Books: $1,300 (why so much?)
• Room and Board: $14,424
• Other Expenses: $1,728
• Total Cost: $60,322

Widener University Financial Aid (2015 - 16):

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 98%
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 96%
  • Loans: 82%
• Average Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $27,016
  • Loans: $10,574

Academic Programs:

• Most Popular Majors: Accounting, Biology, Business Administration, Communication Studies, Hospitality Administration, Mechanical Engineering, Nursing, Psychology

Transfer, Graduation and Retention Rates:

• First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 82%
• Transfer Out Rate: 24%
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 42%
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 57%

Data Source:

National Center for Educational Statistics

If You Like Widener University, You May Also Like These Schools:

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• Temple University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph

Widener University Mission Statement:

mission statement from http://www.widener.edu/about/vision_history/mission.aspx

"Here at Widener, a leading metropolitan university, we achieve our mission by creating a learning environment where curricula are connected to societal issues through civic engagement.

Our mission at Widener includes the following tenets: 

• We lead by providing a unique combination of liberal arts and professional education in a challenging, scholarly, and culturally diverse academic community. 
• We engage our students through dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention, and experiential learning. 
• We inspire our students to be citizens of character who demonstrate professional and civic leadership.
• We contribute to the vitality and well-being of the communities we serve."