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William Peace University

Private nonprofit Raleigh, NC · Urban · Southeast · 100% data
B- Diversity C+ Earnings C- Value
Graduation Rate
45% D+
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$46,643 C+
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$21,649 D+
26% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
94% D
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +14% vs avg
Graduation -22% vs avg
Net Price 26% vs avg
Mobility Top 92%

Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 13.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.1 over 20 years.

13.1× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $13.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,045,187.

What The Data Says

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

  2. Graduation of 45% — 22% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $13.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why William Peace University Matters

William Peace University is a private college in Raleigh, NC 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
666
Setting
Urban
Designations
66
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Visual & Performing Arts

Why students choose William Peace University

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 63% overall
C+
Earnings
$46,643 median
C-
Value
2.2× net price
D+
Affordability
$21,649/yr net
D+
Graduation
45% graduate
F
Social Mobility
0.7% climb Q1→Q5
D
Selectivity
94% admit rate
B-
Diversity
0.65 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

With an acceptance rate of 94%, William Peace University is a welcoming option for students looking to dive into fields like Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts, Social Sciences, Psychology, and Biology & Biomedical. This private nonprofit institution in Raleigh, NC, is particularly suited for those who appreciate a close-knit community and personalized attention. The enrollment of 666 means smaller class sizes, allowing for meaningful interactions with professors and peers alike.

When it comes to life after graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $46,643 ten years out. This figure reflects a solid return on investment, especially for those who navigate their studies strategically. While nearly one-third of students rely on Pell Grants, which indicates a commitment to supporting low-income families, the affordability of education here is crucial for many.

The financials paint a clearer picture of what to expect. With a net price of $21,649 after aid and a median debt of $22,250, students can graduate with manageable financial obligations. Those who thrive here are often those who appreciate a supportive environment and are ready to engage with their studies fully. The combination of accessible academics and a nurturing atmosphere makes William Peace University a compelling choice for many.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective William Peace 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 William Peace University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Raleigh, North Carolina, William Peace University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 94%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,170. The graduation rate is roughly 45%.

Acceptance Rate
94%
Retention Rate
74%
SAT Average
1170
ACT Midpoint
24
SAT Range
1080–1225
ACT Range
22–27
Full-Time Faculty
49%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,905
Student–Faculty Ratio
11:1
Diversity Index
0.65
First-Gen Students
29%
Applicants
1,434
Admitted
906

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 Peace University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at William Peace University is $34,176, 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 $21,649. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,779 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,250 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$34,176
Out-of-State
$34,176
Avg Net Price
$21,649
Median Debt
$22,250
Pell Grant Rate
34%
Federal Loan Rate
47%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$15,779
Family Income $30K–$48K
$18,233
Family Income $48K–$75K
$20,429
Family Income $110K+
$30,565

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is William Peace University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of William Peace University earn a median of $46,643, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$39,738
8 Years
$41,665
10 Years
$46,643
Debt-to-Earnings
0.48x
Earning > $25K
57%

Earnings Trajectory

$39,738 6yr $41,665 8yr $46,643 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (66)
31%
100% (66)
31%
100% (66)
31%
100% (66)
31%

How William Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation45%Earnings 10yr$47KNet Price$22KRetention74%Median Debt$22KPell Grant Rate34%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$16K$0-30K$18K$30-48K$20K$48-75K$31K$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%6.1%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%11.3%MOBILITY0.69%

College ROI Calculator

Is William Peace University Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, William Peace University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $21,649/year ($86,596 total). Graduates earn $46,643 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,131,783 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,045,187 (13.1× your investment). The median debt is $22,250, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 45% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$86,596
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,131,783
Net Return
$1,045,187
ROI Multiple
13.1×
Cost Per Year
$21,649
Median Debt
$22,250
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
45%

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 Peace University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

William Peace University 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 0.69%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 6.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $105,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
0.69%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
11.3%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
6.1%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$105,900

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is William Peace University? 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 Peace University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.38, 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 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.38
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.02
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
9.0%
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

Federal Grants
$2,862,117
Investment Income
$-4,944,462

Top Programs

The fields William Peace University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

As a private institution in Raleigh, North Carolina, William Peace University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 94%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,170. The graduation rate is roughly 45%.

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

Published tuition at William Peace University is $34,176, 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 $21,649. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,779 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,250 in federal student loans.

Is William Peace University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of William Peace University earn a median of $46,643, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

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

William Peace University 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 0.69%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 6.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $105,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is William Peace University? 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 Peace University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.38, 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 9% 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.

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