Wilberforce University
- Graduation Rate
- 13% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $38,298 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $5,567 A
- 68% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 41% A-
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 37.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $37.9 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $37.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $820,827.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Graduation of 13% — 77% below the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $37.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Wilberforce University Matters
Wilberforce University is a private college in Wilberforce, OH and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 822
- Setting
- Rural
- Designations
- HBCU · 51
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Engineering, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Wilberforce 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
Selective — admits about 41% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $5,567 a year after grants and scholarships — 68% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $38,298 ten years after enrolling — 6% below the typical college, against $26,468 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.04 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of just 822 students, Wilberforce University offers a close-knit environment that’s ideal for those who thrive in smaller settings. The acceptance rate of 41% suggests a selective process, attracting individuals who are motivated to excel in programs like Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Communications, and Psychology. These areas of study align well with the interests of students seeking both practical skills and a supportive community.
Looking beyond graduation, students can expect to earn around $38,298 after ten years in the workforce. This figure reflects the potential for upward mobility, especially for those who are driven and engaged during their studies. The affordability of attending Wilberforce is significant, with a net price of $5,567 after financial aid, making it accessible for many, particularly given that 74% of students receive Pell Grants. This financial support can ease the burden of student debt, which averages $26,468.
Ultimately, the practical bottom line is that Wilberforce University is a viable option for students seeking an affordable education in a collaborative environment. Those who tend to thrive here are often those who appreciate personal attention from faculty and a community that feels like family. With a focus on both academic success and affordability, students can build a solid foundation for their future.
Can I Get In?
How selective Wilberforce 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 Wilberforce University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Wilberforce University, located in Wilberforce, Ohio, reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 41%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 18. The graduation rate is roughly 13%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 41%
- Retention Rate
- 74%
- ACT Midpoint
- 18
- Full-Time Faculty
- 60%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,300
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 19:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.01
- First-Gen Students
- 46%
- Applicants
- 4,100
- Admitted
- 1,850
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 Wilberforce University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wilberforce University is $16,448, 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 $5,567. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,630 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,468 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $16,448
- Out-of-State
- $16,448
- Avg Net Price
- $5,567
- Median Debt
- $26,468
- Pell Grant Rate
- 74%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 97%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $5,630
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $5,313
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $5,211
- Family Income $110K+
- $5,226
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 Wilberforce 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 Wilberforce University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wilberforce University report median earnings of $38,298, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $35,146
- 8 Years
- $31,540
- 10 Years
- $38,298
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.69x
- Earning > $25K
- 44%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (3)
- 9%
- 100% (3)
- 9%
- 100% (3)
- 9%
- 100% (3)
- 9%
How Wilberforce Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Wilberforce University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Wilberforce University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,567/year ($22,268 total). Graduates earn $38,298 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $843,095 in total earnings — a net gain of $820,827 (37.9× your investment). The median debt is $26,468, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 13% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $22,268
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $843,095
- Net Return
- $820,827
- ROI Multiple
- 37.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $5,567
- Median Debt
- $26,468
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 13%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $7,042,182
Top Programs
The fields Wilberforce 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.
- Business & Marketing 47% $43,569 early-career
- Health Professions 16% $36,132 early-career
- Engineering 6%
- Biology & Biomedical 6%
- Psychology 6%
- Social Sciences 4%
- Communications 4%
- Computer Science & IT 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 Wilberforce 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
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Wilberforce University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Wilberforce University, located in Wilberforce, Ohio, reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 41%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 18. The graduation rate is roughly 13%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Wilberforce University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wilberforce University is $16,448, 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 $5,567. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,630 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,468 in federal student loans.
Is Wilberforce University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wilberforce University report median earnings of $38,298, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Wilberforce University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Wilberforce University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.04, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Wilberforce University.
- Ohio Christian UniversityCircleville, OH · Close peer35% grad $39,813 earn 38% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Chicago State UniversityChicago, IL · Strong match16% grad $42,778 earn 43% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Talmudical Academy-New JerseyAdelphia, NJ · Strong match17% grad $40,344 earn 43% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Dillard UniversityNew Orleans, LA · Strong match44% grad $39,196 earn 42% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity
- Brevard CollegeBrevard, NC · Strong match44% grad $43,545 earn 42% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar size
- University of Science and Arts of OklahomaChickasha, OK · Strong match41% grad $41,913 earn 66% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Wilberforce University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Wilberforce University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.04, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note