“A Catholic liberal arts college in Northeast Pennsylvania preparing graduates for meaningful careers and purposeful lives.”
King's College is a private Catholic institution in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, founded in 1946 by the Congregation of Holy Cross — the same religious order that founded the University of Notre Dame. With approximately 1,600 undergraduates and a compact 48-acre urban campus in the Wyoming Valley, King's delivers an exceptionally intimate learning environment: a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio, average class sizes of just 18 students, and professors who know every student by name. The college's Catholic and Holy Cross identity infuses an emphasis on ethical leadership, service, and the integration of faith with academic inquiry. Academically, King's is best known for its health science programs, particularly the Physician Assistant program — one of the oldest in the nation, approaching 50 years of operation — alongside nursing, allied health, and kinesiology. Business (including accounting), criminal justice, and education are consistently among the most-enrolled majors. New programs in civil and mechanical engineering, launched in recent years, reflect the college's commitment to professional relevance. Pre-professional advising is a signature strength: King's posts consistently high acceptance rates for its graduates applying to medical, PA, and law school. The McGowan School of Business provides strong accounting and finance tracks with recruitment ties to regional and national firms. Campus life at King's is shaped by its small community spirit, walkable urban setting, and high student engagement: nearly half the student body competes in one of the college's NCAA Division III athletic programs as the Monarchs, and 60% or more of students participate in at least one club, intramural, or arts activity. Traditions like Homecoming, Family and Friends Weekend, and Spring Fling anchor the academic calendar. Wilkes-Barre sits at the edge of the Pocono Mountains and is within easy driving distance of Philadelphia (2 hours) and New York City (2.5 hours), giving students access to major markets for internships, clinical placements, and career opportunities.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Regional Universities North
US News 2026
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceEarly Action
Non-binding early action; decision notification by mid-December
Regular Decision
Standard deadline for fall enrollment consideration
International Preferred Deadline
Preferred deadline for international students to allow sufficient I-20 processing time
Rolling Admission
Applications accepted on a rolling basis after September 15
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$43,000
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Houses the PA program, nursing, health care management, athletic training, and kinesiology with extensive regional clinical partnerships.
Undergraduate business programs with concentrations in accounting, finance, management, and entrepreneurship; strong CPA exam preparation.
Humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, communications, and pre-professional tracks including pre-medicine and pre-law.
Pennsylvania state-certified teacher preparation programs with clinical placements in the Wyoming Valley school district partnerships.
Newer programs in civil and mechanical engineering leveraging regional industry partnerships in manufacturing and infrastructure.
2 years
One of the oldest PA programs in the nation (nearly 50 years), with a strong track record of board certification pass rates and clinical placement across major health systems.
4 years
One of the largest majors at King's with strong CPA exam preparation; graduates are actively recruited by regional and national public accounting firms.
4 years
A consistently popular program with internship placements at county and state law enforcement agencies and a strong pipeline to law school.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $44,100
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
