William Penn University
#3 Best Education Colleges in Iowa- Graduation Rate
- 31% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $48,936 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $22,601 D+
- 32% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 52% B+
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 13.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.8 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Education Colleges in Iowa.
Every $1 spent returns $13.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,161,441.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 20% above the national college median.
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Graduation of 31% — 46% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $13.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why William Penn University Matters
William Penn University is a private college in Oskaloosa, IA 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
- 1,301
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- 65
- Primary Strengths
- Education, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology
Why students choose William Penn 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 52% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 880–1110. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $22,601 a year after grants and scholarships — 32% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $48,936 ten years after enrolling — 20% above the typical college, against $22,415 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. High social capital (1.44 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
William Penn University has a unique enrollment of 1,301 students, creating a close-knit community where individual attention is prioritized. With an acceptance rate of 52%, students have a reasonable chance of gaining admission, making it accessible for many.
According to Opportunity Insights data, specific metrics about economic mobility and outcomes are not available for William Penn University. However, the graduation rate stands at 31%, indicating that many students face challenges in completing their degrees. This statistic suggests that initiatives to support student retention and success could be beneficial.
The cost of attending William Penn University is about $22,601 per year, with a median debt of $22,415 upon graduation. Alumni can expect to earn an average of $48,936 within ten years of completing their degree. Students who thrive here often pursue programs in Education, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, and Social Sciences, which cater to those looking for practical career paths.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective William Penn 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 William Penn University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
William Penn University, located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 52% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 984. The graduation rate is roughly 31%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 52%
- Retention Rate
- 58%
- SAT Average
- 984
- ACT Midpoint
- 19
- SAT Range
- 880–1110
- ACT Range
- 16–22
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,394
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.64
- First-Gen Students
- 38%
- Applicants
- 1,264
- Admitted
- 729
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 Penn University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at William Penn University is $29,750, 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 $22,601. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,608 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,415 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $29,750
- Out-of-State
- $29,750
- Avg Net Price
- $22,601
- Median Debt
- $22,415
- Pell Grant Rate
- 47%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 88%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $20,608
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $19,378
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $20,560
- Family Income $110K+
- $25,916
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is William Penn University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of William Penn University earn a median of $48,936, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $40,189
- 8 Years
- $45,076
- 10 Years
- $48,936
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.46x
- Earning > $25K
- 68%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (76)
- 23%
- 100% (76)
- 23%
- 100% (76)
- 23%
- 100% (76)
- 23%
How William 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 William Penn University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, William Penn University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $22,601/year ($90,404 total). Graduates earn $48,936 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,251,845 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,161,441 (13.8× your investment). The median debt is $22,415, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 31% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $90,404
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,251,845
- Net Return
- $1,161,441
- ROI Multiple
- 13.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $22,601
- Median Debt
- $22,415
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 31%
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 Penn University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
William Penn 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. About 9.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 16.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $64,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.61%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 16.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 9.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $64,400
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $7,403,742
- Federal Grants
- $1,313,635
- Investment Income
- $-666,193
Top Programs
The fields William Penn 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.
- Education 26%
- Business & Marketing 18%
- Health Professions 8%
- Psychology 8%
- Social Sciences 6%
- Biology & Biomedical 5%
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for William Penn 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+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into William Penn University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
William Penn University, located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 52% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 984. The graduation rate is roughly 31%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend William Penn University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at William Penn University is $29,750, 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 $22,601. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,608 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,415 in federal student loans.
Is William Penn University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of William Penn University earn a median of $48,936, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does William Penn University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
William Penn 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. About 9.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 16.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $64,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is William Penn 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 Penn University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.44, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to William Penn University.
- Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and SciencesFayette, MO · Close peer52% grad $48,991 earn 57% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Johnson C Smith UniversityCharlotte, NC · Close peer34% grad $42,680 earn 45% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- East Texas Baptist UniversityMarshall, TX · Close peer48% grad $52,788 earn 58% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- McMurry UniversityAbilene, TX · Close peer41% grad $48,779 earn 57% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Ave Maria UniversityAve Maria, FL · Close peer55% grad $49,520 earn 41% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Thomas UniversityThomasville, GA · Close peer28% grad $49,716 earn 38% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is William Penn 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 Penn University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.44, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note