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William Jewell College logo
Private nonprofit Liberty, MO · Suburban · Plains · 100% data
A Selectivity B+ Earnings B- Value
Graduation Rate
64% C+
Solid completion rate — most students graduate
Earnings (10yr)
$59,268 B+
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$17,562 C
Close to the national average
Acceptance Rate
38% A
Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Earnings +45% vs avg
Graduation +13% vs avg
Net Price 2% vs avg
Mobility Top 95%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 18.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.7 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Business Colleges in Missouri.

18.7× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $18.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,240,182.

What The Data Says

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

  2. Earnings 45% above the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $18.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why William Jewell College Matters

William Jewell College is a private college in Liberty, MO and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

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

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private College
Carnegie Class
Baccalaureate College
Enrollment
924
Setting
Suburban
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical

Why students choose William Jewell College

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community
Strength in Business & Marketing
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C+
Top 43% overall
B+
Earnings
$59,268 median
B-
Value
3.4× net price
C
Affordability
$17,562/yr net
C+
Graduation
64% graduate
F
Social Mobility
0.6% climb Q1→Q5
A
Selectivity
38% admit rate
C
Diversity
0.60 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of 924 students, William Jewell College is a great fit for those looking for a close-knit academic community. The college excels in programs like Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical, and Engineering. These fields attract students who are eager to dive deep into their studies and engage with faculty, fostering a supportive environment that can lead to personal and academic growth.

Looking ahead, graduates from William Jewell can expect to earn an average of $59,268 within ten years of completing their degree. This number indicates a solid return on investment, particularly when you consider the college's affordability. The net price after aid stands at $17,562, which is reasonable for many families. While 32% of students receive Pell Grants, it’s clear that those who take advantage of the resources available here can find pathways to success.

In terms of financial outlook, the median debt for graduates is $24,498, which is manageable for many graduates starting their careers. Students who thrive here often appreciate the supportive environment and the emphasis on both academic and personal development. This is a place where students can build strong connections and prepare effectively for their futures.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective William Jewell College 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 William Jewell College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Liberty, Missouri, William Jewell College reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 38%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,095. The graduation rate is roughly 64%.

Acceptance Rate
38%
Retention Rate
74%
SAT Average
1095
ACT Midpoint
24
SAT Range
1080–1270
ACT Range
18–24
Full-Time Faculty
100%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$7,488
Student–Faculty Ratio
10:1
Diversity Index
0.60
First-Gen Students
20%
Applicants
1,676
Admitted
687

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 William Jewell College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at William Jewell College is $20,610, 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 $17,562. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,909 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,498 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$20,610
Out-of-State
$20,610
Avg Net Price
$17,562
Median Debt
$24,498
Pell Grant Rate
32%
Federal Loan Rate
48%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$12,909
Family Income $30K–$48K
$4,356
Family Income $48K–$75K
$12,869
Family Income $110K+
$23,901

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 William Jewell College — 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 William Jewell College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of William Jewell College earn a median of $59,268, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$54,197
8 Years
$59,150
10 Years
$59,268
Debt-to-Earnings
0.41x
Earning > $25K
75%

Earnings Trajectory

$54,197 6yr $59,150 8yr $59,268 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (164)
62%
100% (164)
62%
100% (164)
62%
100% (164)
62%

How William Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation64%Earnings 10yr$59KNet Price$18KRetention74%Median Debt$24KPell Grant Rate32%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$13K$0-30K$4K$30-48K$13K$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%3.7%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%15.1%MOBILITY0.55%

College ROI Calculator

Is William Jewell College Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, William Jewell College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,562/year ($70,248 total). Graduates earn $59,268 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,310,430 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,240,182 (18.7× your investment). The median debt is $24,498, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 64% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$70,248
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,310,430
Net Return
$1,240,182
ROI Multiple
18.7×
Cost Per Year
$17,562
Median Debt
$24,498
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
64%

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 William Jewell College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

William Jewell College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.55%, a more modest figure. Access is narrower: only about 3.7% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 15.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $95,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
0.55%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
15.1%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
3.7%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$129,208
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is William Jewell College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at William Jewell College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.79, 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 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.79
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.02
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
10.2%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$-7,175,709

Top Programs

The fields William Jewell College 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 William Jewell College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Liberty, Missouri, William Jewell College reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 38%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,095. The graduation rate is roughly 64%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend William Jewell College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at William Jewell College is $20,610, 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 $17,562. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,909 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,498 in federal student loans.

Is William Jewell College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of William Jewell College earn a median of $59,268, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does William Jewell College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

William Jewell College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.55%, a more modest figure. Access is narrower: only about 3.7% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 15.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $95,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is William Jewell College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at William Jewell College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.79, 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 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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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