Waldorf University
#1 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Iowa- 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
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.
Every $1 spent returns $13.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $958,068.
What The Data Says
-
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Earnings 25% above the national college median.
-
Graduation of 24% — 58% below the national average.
-
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
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 77% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $19,693 a year after grants and scholarships — 15% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $51,165 ten years after enrolling — 25% above the typical college, against $18,752 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 42% nationally for mobility.
See mobility →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
- #1 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Iowa
- #4 Best Colleges for Criminal Justice
- #4 Best Bachelor's in Criminal Justice
- #4 Best Master's in Criminal Justice
- #6 Best Online Bachelor's in Biology
- #6 Best Online Master's in Biology
- #6 Best Online Biology Programs
- #7 Best Online Bachelor's in Criminal Justice
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.
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.
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
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.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
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.
- Criminal Justice 30% $88,164 early-career
- Business & Marketing 24% $69,379 early-career
- Psychology 11% $42,720 early-career
- Education 3% $49,274 early-career
- Communications 3% $35,674 early-career
- Health Professions 2%
- Biology & Biomedical 1%
- Humanities 1%
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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Waldorf University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
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.
- Buena Vista UniversityStorm Lake, IA · Close peer54% grad $49,156 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Upper Iowa UniversityFayette, IA · Close peer38% grad $52,766 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Gardner-Webb UniversityBoiling Springs, NC · Close peer59% grad $48,039 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of Mount OliveMount Olive, NC · Close peer50% grad $47,139 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Texas Wesleyan UniversityFort Worth, TX · Close peer32% grad $54,053 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Wayland Baptist UniversityPlainview, TX · Close peer19% grad $51,838 earn 56% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size