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Chester, PA 19013-5792
p. 610-499-4000
w. www.widener.edu
Widener University-Main Campus
General Information, Alumni, History, Campus, Students, Faculty, Address, and Tuition
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Widener University-Main Campus Academics
Widener University offers over 80 programs including 50 undergraduate degrees, 30 minors and 30 graduate degrees. The school is comprised of eight different schools including the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business Administration, the School of Engineering, the School of Hospitality Management, the School of Human Service Professions, the School of Law, the School of Nursing and University College.
The College of Arts and Sciences offers 24 majors across three divisions: Humanities, Science and Social Science. Degrees include English, modern language and philosophy. The college also runs Pre-Law and Pre-Medicine programs. The Pre-Law program prepares students for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
The Widener University School of Hospitality Management is one of the earliest schools devoted to this field and was ranked 16 out of 200 hospitality programs evaluated by the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education. The school offers both graduate and undergraduate degrees in a host of fields including hotel and resort management and tourism. The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriot Dining Room is open to the public and is the laboratory where students receive real-world training and experience.
The Law School at Widener is situated on two different campuses and offers many programs and degrees. Widener offers three year and four year Juris Doctor Programs, and dual programs like the Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration among others. Graduate programs can be found in health law and corporate law. There are also continuing legal education and bar programs offered.
The School of Human Service Professions offers students degrees in four academic divisions including the Center for Education, the Center for Social Work Education, the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology and the Institute for Physical Therapy Education. Degrees offered include: special education, physical therapy and general social work.
Widener University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Widener University-Main Campus Admissions
New students applying for admission to Widener must complete a school application, submit an official high school transcript and SAT or ACT scores and a counselor evaluation form submitted from the student’s high school.
Law school applicants students must complete an application, submit a personal statement as to why they want to be in the program, submit official undergraduate transcripts with a GPA of 2.8 or higher, and two letters of recommendation with one from a dean or professor of the school.
Widener University-Main Campus Financial Aid
Students must apply for the FAFSA to be considered for aid. Widener offers loans, grants, scholarships and work study programs.
Grants include Federal Pell Grants, Federal ACG and SMART Grants and Widener Grant-In Aid.
Scholarships include Widener Academic Scholarships and Private Scholarships.
Widener University-Main Campus Students
Widener sponsors more than 80 clubs and organizations including the Italian Club, the Young Republicans and Democrats and the Criminal Justice Organization. The school also sponsors many Greek organizations.
Theatre Widener is a troupe consisting of students, staff and alumni. The theatre serves the community and is open to the public.
The Pioneer Review is the school literary journal.
The University Center at Widener is a site on campus where students can hang out and relax with events and programs.
The man campus at Widener sits on 108 acres just south of Philadelphia. The school also runs three outlying campuses in Harrisburg and Exton, Pennsylvania and one in Wilmington, Delaware.
Widener University-Main Campus Athletics
Widener sponsors 20 intercollegiate athletics including men’s and women’s basketball, men’s baseball and women’s field hockey. The Pride competes in the Middle Atlantic Corporations in the NCAA Division III.
Information Summary
| Overall Score
On StateUniversity.com (about) |
Insufficient Data |
|---|---|
| Total Cost
On-Campus Attendance |
$41,525 |
| Admission
Success rate |
66% |
| SAT
75 %ile scores |
1090 |
| Student Ratio
Ratio of students to faculty |
12 : 1 |
| Retention
(Full-Time / Part-Time) |
71% / N/A |
| Enrollment
Total (all students) |
4,703 |
Demographics – Main Campus and Surrounding Areas
Reported area around or near Chester, PA 19013-5792
| Surrounding community | Large suburb (inside urban area but outside city, pop. over 250,000) |
|---|---|
| Total Population | 38,762 (38,762 urban / N/A rural) |
| Households | 13,596 (2.63 people per house) |
| Families | 8,611 (3.33 people per family) |
| Pop. — African American | 29,834 |
| Pop. — Asian | 307 |
| Pop. — Pacific Islander | 24 |
| Pop. — American Indian / Alaskan Native | 233 |
| Pop. — White (incl. Hispanic) | 7,674 |
| Pop. — Other | 1,330 |
Carnegie Foundation Classification
Doctoral/Research Universities
| Undergraduate | Professions plus arts & sciences, some graduate coexistence |
|---|---|
| Graduate | Doctoral, professional dominant |
| Undergraduate Population | Full-time four-year, selective, lower transfer-in |
| Enrollment | High undergraduate |
| Size & Setting | Medium four-year, highly residential |
General Characteristics
| Highest offering | Doctoral degree |
|---|---|
| Calendar System | Semester |
| Years of college work required | N/A |
| Variable Tuition |  |
Special Learning Opportunities
| Distance Learning |  |
|---|---|
| ROTC — Army / Navy / Air Force | —
/
/
|
| Study Abroad | |
| Weekend College | |
| Teacher Certification | |
Student Tuition Costs and Fees
What are the typical tuition costs and fees for attending Widener University-Main Campus?
Ranks 190th for total cost of attendance
| In District | In State | Out of State | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FT Undergraduate Tuition | $28,180 | $28,180 | $28,180 |
| FT Undergraduate Required Fees | $450 | $450 | $450 |
| PT Undergraduate per Credit Hour | $940 | $940 | $940 |
| FT Graduate Tuition | $22,228 | $22,228 | $22,228 |
| FT Graduate Required Fees | $250 | $250 | $250 |
| PT Graduate per Credit Hour | $664 | $664 | $664 |
| Total Cost of Attendance — On-Campus | $41,525 | $41,525 | $41,525 |
| Total Cost of Attendance — Off-Campus w/out Family | $40,015 | $40,015 | $40,015 |
| Total Cost of Attendance — Off-Campus with Family | $31,915 | $31,915 | $31,915 |
Student Tuition Cost History and Trends
Three year history and trends on the cost of attending
| In District | In State | Out of State | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Published Tuition & Fees | $24,920  $28,630 |
$24,920  $28,630 |
$24,920  $28,630 |
| Cost (regardless of residency) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Books & Supplies | $940  $990 |
||
| On-Campus – Room & Board | $9,400  $10,240 |
||
| On-Campus – Other Expenses | $1,620  $1,665 |
||
| Off-Campus w/out Family – Room & Board | $7,650  $8,100 |
||
| Off-Campus w/out Family – Other Expenses | $2,250  $2,295 |
||
| Off-Campus with Family – Room & Board | $2,250  $2,295 |
||
Admission Details
| Application Fee Required | N/A |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Application Fee | $35 |
| Graduate Application Fee | $25 |
| First Professional Application Fee | N/A |
| Applicants | 4,394 (2,024 male / 2,370 female) |
| Admitted | 2,913 (1,399 male / 1,514 female) |
| Admission rate | 66% |
| First-time Enrollment | 793 (402 male / 391 female) |
| FT Enrollment | 782 (400 male / 382 female) |
| PT Enrollment | 11 (2 male / 9 female) |
| Total Enrollment | 4,703 |
Admission Criteria
What criteria does Widener University-Main Campus use for admissions?
| Open Admissions | |
|---|---|
| Secondary School GPA / Rank / Record |  / / |
| College Prep. Completion | |
| Recommendations |  |
| Formal competency demo | N/A |
| Admission test scores | |
| TOEFL | |
| Other tests | N/A |
= Neither required nor recommended
Admission Credits Accepted
What types of credits does Widener University-Main Campus accept?
| Dual Credit | |
|---|---|
| Life Experience | |
| Advanced Placement (AP) | |
Athletics - Association Memberships
| Sports / Athletic Conference Memberships | NCAA |
|---|---|
| NCAA Football Conference | Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation |
| NCAA Basketball Conference | Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation |
| NCAA Baseball Conference | Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation |
| NCAA Track & Field Conference | Middle Atlantic States Athletic Corporation |
SAT Test Admission
Ranks 923rd for 75pctl scores
| Applicants submitting SAT results | 98% |
|---|---|
| Verbal scores (25/75 %ile) | 440 / 530 |
| Math scores (25/75 %ile) | 450 / 560 |
| Cumulative scores (25/75 %ile) | 890 / 1090 |
Student Services
| Remedial Services | |
|---|---|
| Academic / Career Counseling | |
| PT Cost-defraying Employment | |
| Career Placement | |
| On-Campus Day Care | |
| Library Facility | |
Student Living
| First-time Room / Board Required | |
|---|---|
| Dorm Capacity | 1,772 |
| Meals per Week | 19 |
| Room Fee | $5,200 |
| Board Fee | $5,040 |
Student Financial Aid Details
How many students use Financial Aid, and how much do they use?
Widener University-Main Campus Ranks 532nd for the average student loan amount.
| Average | Users | % of Attendees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Grant Aid | $4,252 | 191 |  29% |
| State & Local Grant Aid | $3,232 | 223 |  34% |
| Institutional Grant Aid | $11,632 | 627 |  96% |
| Student Loan Aid | $6,999 | 540 |  83% |
| Any financial aid type | 633 |  97% |
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at Widener University-Main Campus?
| Men | Women | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
Non Resident Alien | 57 | 36 | 93 |
Black Non-Hispanic | 182 | 440 | 622 |
Hispanic | 36 | 63 | 99 |
Asian / Pacific Islander | 36 | 64 | 100 |
American Indian / Alaskan Native | 6 | 4 | 10 |
White Non-Hispanic | 1,234 | 1,813 | 3,047 |
Race Unknown | 310 | 422 | 732 |
| Total | 1,861 | 2,842 | 4,703 |
Student Graduation Demographics
How many students graduated at Widener University-Main Campus?
| Men | Women | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
Non Resident Alien | 1 | N/A | 1 |
Black Non-Hispanic | 24 | 17 | 41 |
Hispanic | 3 | 4 | 7 |
Asian / Pacific Islander | 3 | 5 | 8 |
American Indian / Alaskan Native | 1 | 2 | 3 |
White Non-Hispanic | 266 | 200 | 466 |
Race Unknown | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| Total | 303 | 231 | 534 |
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at Widener University-Main Campus.
| Men | Women | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 100 | 145 | |
| 14 | 95 | 109 | |
| 11 | 93 | 104 | |
| 64 | 28 | 92 | |
| 11 | 57 | 68 |
Student Completion / Graduation Demographics
How many students are successful graduates?
Faculty Compensation / Salaries
Widener University-Main Campus Ranks 725th for the average full-time faculty salary.
| Tenure system | |
|---|---|
| Average FT Salary | $65,618 ($70,488 male / $61,360 female) |
| Number of FT Faculty | 253 (118 male / 135 female) |
| Number of PT Faculty | N/A |
| FT Faculty Ratio | N/A |
| Total Benefits | $5,681,489 |
Widener University-Main Campus Summary
The following paragraph provided courtesy of wikipedia.
Widener University is a private, metropolitan university located in Chester, Pennsylvania. Approximately 3,000 undergraduates and 3,500 graduate students attend Widener among its eight degree granting schools. The Carnegie Foundation classifies Widener as a Doctoral/Research University and a Community Engagement Institution. Founded in 1821 as a preparatory school for boys in Wilmington, Delaware, the institution now known as Widener University moved to Pennsylvania in 1862, and was granted collegiate powers and privileges via universal charter by the Pennsylvania legislature in April of that year. In 1972, the name Widener College was adopted after the prominent Widener family of Philadelphia, and the Corps of Cadets disbanded (an Army ROTC program still exists). In recognition of its comprehensive offerings, Widener College became Widener University in 1979. Today, Widener is a four-campus university offering more than 80 programs of study. Founded in 1866 after the school moved to Chester, the 108 acre Main Campus consists of 97 buildings and serves all undergraduate day students as well as University College students. Some classes for University College students and graduate business students are also held here. Starting in 2004, the Exton Campus is the newest Widener campus, located in a business park 25 miles from the Main Campus. It primarily serves University College students and contains Widener’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) which provides continuing education programs for retired adults. Widener’s comprehensive offerings range from liberal arts to professional programs and include over 50 undergraduate majors and more than 30 graduate programs of study. Widener boasts a undergraduate student to faculty ratio of 12:1 with 93% of the faculty having doctorates or the highest degree in their field. The university is comprised of the following schools: In 2006, Washington Monthly magazine ranked Widener number 52 out of all national universities in the country. The U.S. News and World Report’s 2008 Best Graduate Schools ranks several of Widener’s graduate programs: clinical psychology → #145, health care management → #49, nursing → #141, physical therapy → #173, and social work → #140. The Carnegie Foundation classifies Widener as a Doctoral/Research University whose undergraduate population is highly residential and selective. Cooperative education A co-op program is available as an option for all undergraduate students within the School of Engineering and School of Business Administration as well as computer science majors in the College of Arts and Sciences. Honors program The Honors Program consists of approximately 200 undergraduate students and provides smaller, seminar courses that fulfill the university’s general education requirements. Widener’s Greek organizations include: Widener is one of only 22 colleges that is a member of Project Pericles, an organization promoting social responsibility and addressing civic apathy among students. Widener opened a Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center in 2006 to provide consulting and educational programs to local small businesses and entrepreneurs. Named the Widener Partnership Charter School, the school utilizes the university’s programs in education, social work, nursing and clinical psychology. This collaboration involves the participation of Widener faculty and students to not only provide educational support but also provide additional assistance outside of school through counseling and health services.
Comment and Corrections Make a comment …
Familiar with this University? We would love to hear about your experience. Feel free to add comments or additional information regarding Widener University-Main Campus.
5 months ago
mark prendergast mmjp425 ((at)) aol dot com
I agree totally with Eileen Vicente's comments regarding Widener University's School of Education. I graduated with a 3.74 G.P.A. in their Masters Program. Because no one at the University informed me about a potential problem with my criminal background check,I find myself unable to secure a full time teaching postion. This has been brought to the attention of Pesident Harris who has not had the coutesy to look into this matter. I stongly urge all parents who are considering sending their children to Widener especially the Shool of Education to beware. They do not care about your childrens education but only the monetary gains they receive from it.
about 1 year ago
joe motigotz jmotigotz ((at)) verizon dot net
Widener has been the best decision I have ever made. The people are fantastic and I recieve the personal attention I expected. In my first year I had the opportunity to work directly in the community on a project with my professor and it was a life-changing experience.
about 1 year ago
eileen vicente jvice123 ((at)) aol dot com
Periodically, I write comments about my experiences at Widener University. I was a graduate student at this pathetic excuse for a university. By the way, I graduated with an A- Average with very little effort. My bitterness comes from the fact that it is a school that does not treat students with respect. I can particularly say this about the School of Education. The bottom line is money at Widener should be their motto. The school charges a lot, but gives you very little in return. Furthermore, if you rub a teacher the wrong way, for any reason, let me warn you that he/she will go to any extent to get even with you. They will spread very untrue rumors and more. In addition to this problem, the courses are far from the best. The Special Education Department and the Foreign Language Department are deplorable. I would equate the department heads of these two departments with teeny boppers who like to bully people who have brains because they are threatened by people who know more than they do, or students that are aware of the fact that they are irresponsible. If you want a good education, go to a state college like the College of New Jersey. Just take note of the rating of that college compared to Widener. Good luck if you choose Widner because you will need it!!!