Skip to content
CollegeRanker
Private nonprofit Forest City, IA · Rural · Plains · 93% data
B Earnings C+ Diversity C+ Social Mobility
Graduation Rate
24% F
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$51,165 B
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$19,693 C-
Close to the national average
Acceptance Rate
77% C
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +25% vs avg
Graduation -58% vs avg
Net Price 15% vs avg
Mobility Top 42%

Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 13.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.2 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Iowa.

13.2× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $13.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $958,068.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Earnings 25% above the national college median.

  3. Graduation of 24% — 58% below the national average.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $13.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Waldorf University

Waldorf University is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
1,827
Setting
Rural
Designations
39
Primary Strengths
Criminal Justice, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Education

Why students choose Waldorf University

Strength in Criminal Justice
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 50% overall
B
Earnings
$51,165 median
C
Value
2.6× net price
C-
Affordability
$19,693/yr net
F
Graduation
24% graduate
C+
Social Mobility
1.6% climb Q1→Q5
C
Selectivity
77% admit rate
C+
Diversity
0.64 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Waldorf University has an acceptance rate of 77%, making it accessible for many students. This figure highlights the university's commitment to welcoming a diverse range of applicants. With an enrollment of 1,827, it offers a vibrant community for those looking to further their education.

Graduates from Waldorf University see a median earning of $51,165 within ten years of completing their degree. While the school does not have specific mobility or success rates for students from lower-income backgrounds, the 36% Pell Grant rate indicates that a significant portion of the student body comes from families with financial need. This suggests that the university is working to support students from various economic backgrounds.

The net price for attending Waldorf University is $19,693, with a median debt of $18,752 upon graduation. These figures reflect a manageable financial commitment for many students. Individuals who thrive here often pursue programs in Criminal Justice, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Health Professions, or Education, aligning their studies with practical career paths.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Waldorf University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Waldorf University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Waldorf University, located in Forest City, Iowa, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. The graduation rate is roughly 24%.

Acceptance Rate
77%
Retention Rate
44%
Full-Time Faculty
37%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$5,766
Student–Faculty Ratio
24:1
Diversity Index
0.64
First-Gen Students
46%
Applicants
1,056
Admitted
780

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Waldorf University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Waldorf University is $25,978, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $19,693. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,448 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,752 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$25,978
Out-of-State
$25,978
Avg Net Price
$19,693
Median Debt
$18,752
Pell Grant Rate
36%
Federal Loan Rate
39%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$16,448
Family Income $30K–$48K
$18,378
Family Income $48K–$75K
$23,045
Family Income $110K+
$23,667

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Waldorf University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Waldorf University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Waldorf University earn a median of $51,165, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$50,515
8 Years
$49,831
10 Years
$51,165
Debt-to-Earnings
0.37x
Earning > $25K
61%

Earnings Trajectory

$50,515 6yr $49,831 8yr $51,165 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (36)
46%
100% (36)
46%
100% (36)
46%
100% (36)
46%

How Waldorf Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation24%Earnings 10yr$51KNet Price$20KRetention44%Median Debt$19KPell Grant Rate36%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$16K$0-30K$18K$30-48K$23K$48-75K$24K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%10.3%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%15.6%MOBILITY1.61%

College ROI Calculator

Is Waldorf University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Waldorf University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $19,693/year ($78,772 total). Graduates earn $51,165 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,036,840 in total earnings — a net gain of $958,068 (13.2× your investment). The median debt is $18,752, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 24% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$78,772
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,036,840
Net Return
$958,068
ROI Multiple
13.2×
Cost Per Year
$19,693
Median Debt
$18,752
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
24%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Waldorf University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Waldorf University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.61%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 15.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $70,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
1.61%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
15.6%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
10.3%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$95,513
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Top Programs

The fields Waldorf University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Waldorf University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Waldorf University, located in Forest City, Iowa, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. The graduation rate is roughly 24%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Waldorf University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Waldorf University is $25,978, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $19,693. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,448 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,752 in federal student loans.

Is Waldorf University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Waldorf University earn a median of $51,165, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does Waldorf University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Waldorf University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.61%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 15.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $70,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Waldorf University.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys