Widener started in 1821 as a boys' school and spent over a century as a military college before becoming a university in the 1970s. The main campus is in Chester, on the Delaware River just south-west of Philadelphia. It is a private university known for nursing, engineering, physical therapy, social work and hospitality management. Students get a lot of hands-on work through clinical placements and co-ops.
Chester, Pennsylvania, United States
Official website: widener.edu
1821
Private university
Chester, near Philadelphia
Nursing and health professions
$30,000 – $53,000
Undergraduate tuition at top; graduate programmes lower
$14,000 – $17,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on widener.edu before you apply.
BS Nursing
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Mechanical Engineering
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 79
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Master of Social Work
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Doctor of Physical Therapy
DoctorateDuration
36 Months
Intake
Jun
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 90
Nursing and physical therapy programmes with heavy clinical training.
Engineering with a required co-op in industry.
A campus a short train ride from Philadelphia.
Nursing and therapy graduates join hospital systems around Philadelphia and Wilmington.
Engineering graduates work for manufacturers, utilities and pharmaceutical firms in the region.
STEM graduates can apply for up to three years of OPT.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Campus is self-contained, with brick halls, green lawns and a stadium, and most first-years live on site. Chester itself is a small, working-class city that is still rebuilding, so students tend to socialise on campus or in Philadelphia.
The SEPTA regional rail line from Chester station reaches Center City Philadelphia in about thirty-five minutes. Philadelphia International Airport is roughly fifteen minutes away by car.
Form I-20 issued by Widener University
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Widener admits undergraduates on a rolling basis. For fall, international students should apply by spring. Graduate deadlines vary, and the Doctor of Physical Therapy uses the PTCAS application with earlier dates.
Most programmes start in late August, with spring starts for many undergraduate and some graduate programmes. The physical therapy doctorate begins in the summer.
It's the F-1 student visa. Get your I-20 from Widener University first (they need your deposit and bank documents), then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend the visa interview. Book the interview early in peak season.
Nursing, engineering, business, social work and physical therapy are the most popular. Undergraduates need a secondary school record and IELTS 6.0 to 6.5. Graduate programmes need a bachelor's degree, and health programmes list prerequisite science courses.
Widener offers merit scholarships to international undergraduates, decided when you are admitted. Graduate awards are limited and vary by department.
