Match #1
Gannon University
Erie, PA
Profile closeness92/100
Admit rate74%
- 2,365 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Small
- Graduation rate 71%, close to 67%
- Enrollment 2,365 students, close to 2,951
The colleges most similar to Widener University are Gannon University, DeSales University, and Thomas Jefferson University. Widener University admits 71% of applicants and has an average net price of $26,151 a year; 8 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 9 admit a larger share of applicants, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with Widener University. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to Widener University
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
DeSales University
Center Valley, PA
Profile closeness89/100
Admit rate77%
- 2,128 students
- Private nonprofit
- Rural: Fringe
- Graduation rate 70%, close to 67%
- Enrollment 2,128 students, close to 2,951
Match #3
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA
Profile closeness88/100
Admit rate81%
- 3,755 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Large
- Graduation rate 71%, close to 67%
- Enrollment 3,755 students, close to 2,951
Match #4
Robert Morris University
Moon Township, PA
Profile closeness87/100
Admit rate90%
- 2,896 students
- Private nonprofit
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 64%, close to 67%
- Enrollment 2,896 students, close to 2,951
Match #5
Chatham University
Pittsburgh, PA
Profile closeness84/100
Admit rate62%
- 1,232 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Large
- Graduation rate 64%, close to 67%
- Average net price $25,502, close to $26,151
Match #6
Mercyhurst University
Erie, PA
Profile closeness84/100
Admit rate81%
- 2,191 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Small
- Graduation rate 61%, close to 67%
- Enrollment 2,191 students, close to 2,951
Match #7
Seton Hill University-Pennsylvania
Greensburg, PA
Profile closeness83/100
Admit rate80%
- 1,492 students
- Private nonprofit
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 67%, close to 67%
- Average net price $25,519, close to $26,151
Match #8
Wilkes University-Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Profile closeness83/100
Admit rate91%
- 1,985 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Small
- Graduation rate 59%, close to 67%
- Enrollment 1,985 students, close to 2,951
Match #9
Messiah University
Mechanicsburg, PA
Profile closeness83/100
Admit rate79%
- 2,259 students
- Private nonprofit
- Suburb: Large
- Enrollment 2,259 students, close to 2,951
- Average net price $25,955, close to $26,151
Match #10
York College of Pennsylvania
York, PA
Profile closeness83/100
Admit rate74%
- 3,265 students
- Private nonprofit
- Suburb: Midsize
- Graduation rate 62%, close to 67%
- Enrollment 3,265 students, close to 2,951
Questions about Widener University alternatives
What colleges are similar to Widener University?
The closest matches to Widener University are Gannon University, DeSales University, Thomas Jefferson University, Robert Morris University, and Chatham University. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Is Widener University hard to get into?
Widener University admitted 71% of its 5,719 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is moderately selective. 9 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.
Which Widener University alternatives cost less?
8 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Widener University ($26,151 a year), including Robert Morris University ($21,445), York College of Pennsylvania ($21,886), and Gannon University ($24,443). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
