Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania has a population of about 44,217. The city’s median household income is $47,970 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 19.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited business administration programs within 100 miles of Wilkes-Barre, with tuition ranging from $6,450 to $15,810 per year. In the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area, the top-earning business administration-related role is Financial Manager at a median $123,280 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer business administration programs. Distances are calculated from Wilkes-Barre city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King’s College | Wilkes-Barre, PA | 0.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Wilkes University | Wilkes-Barre, PA | 0.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Luzerne County Community College | Nanticoke, PA | 7.0 mi | $6,450 - $15,810 | – |
| University of Scranton | Scranton, PA | 15.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lackawanna College | Scranton, PA | 16.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Pennsylvania schools on the Pennsylvania business administration page.
Wilkes-Barre is part of the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA metro area (BLS area code 42540). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Pennsylvania statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $89,210 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $95,310 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $108,740 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $116,175 |
| Financial Manager | $123,280 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $131,709 |
| Human Resources Manager | $119,430 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $127,596 |
| Management Analyst | $89,860 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $96,004 |
| Project Management Specialist | $88,600 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $94,658 |
| Accountant or Auditor | $67,530 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $72,147 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $58,180 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $62,158 |
| Office and Administrative Support Supervisor | $61,880 | Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | $66,111 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 44,217 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $47,970 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 19.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 93.6 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Business Administration-related employment in Luzerne County | 2,745 workers, 303 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 5 business administration programs within 100 miles of Wilkes-Barre. The closest is King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA (0.3 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Lackawanna College (16.0 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying business administration-related roles near Wilkes-Barre are: Financial Manager ($123,280), Human Resources Manager ($119,430), Administrative Services Manager ($108,740). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Pennsylvania statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Scranton, PA is 15.4 miles from Wilkes-Barre and has its own set of local business administration programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Wilkes-Barre’s median household income of $47,970 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Wilkes-Barre while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Pennsylvania public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Return to Best Online Business Administration Programs in Pennsylvania (2026)