Wilkes University To Offer Economic Relief Awards For Transfer Students Affected by Pandemic

Wilkes-Barre, PA (04/06/2020) — Wilkes University has announced that it will include Economic Relief Awards in financial aid packages for local students transferring to the University who have been impacted by the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The awards, which will range from $1,000 to $3,000, will be awarded to transfer students planning to enter Wilkes in the fall 2020 semester. These funds will be in addition to the University's merit awards in financial aid packages given to transfer students based on their academic records. Those merit awards range from $9,000 to $16,000.

"The cost of education is traditionally one of the biggest barriers for prospective students, particularly transfer students. COVID-19 has only exacerbated this fact," said Kishan Zuber, Wilkes vice president for enrollment management and marketing. "Wilkes University is committed to our entire family of Colonels. That includes our future students. In anticipation of financial uncertainties, these special economic relief awards will help keep a Wilkes education as accessible as possible."

In order to qualify for the awards, students must be residents of Pennsylvania. Preference will be given to students residing within a 25-mile radius of Wilkes University. Counties generally will include all or part of Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wyoming. Students will submit a supplemental application describing how COVID-19 has impacted their family economically.

About Wilkes University:

Wilkes University is a private, independent, non-sectarian institution of higher education dedicated to academic and intellectual excellence through mentoring in the liberal arts, sciences and professional programs. Founded in 1933, Wilkes is on a mission to create one of the nation's finest doctoral universities, offering all of the programs, activities and opportunities of a large university in the intimate, caring and mentoring environment of a small college, open to all who show promise. The Economist named Wilkes 25th in the nation for the value of its education for graduates. In addition to 46 majors, Wilkes offers 24 master's degree programs and five doctoral/terminal degree programs, including the doctor of philosophy in nursing, doctor of nursing practice, doctor of education, doctor of pharmacy, and master of fine arts in creative writing. Learn more at www.wilkes.edu.