Waldorf University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Forest City, Iowa. It enrolls 1,827 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
53/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes3
Value46
Affordability55
Selectivity49
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 77%, Waldorf University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
77%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Waldorf University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
6.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Waldorf University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $19,693 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$19,693
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
36%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
39%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$25,978
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,920
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,548
Books & Supplies
$1,286
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$8,132
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,132
Total Cost of Attendance
$39,675
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$16,448
$30,001 – $48,000
$18,378
$48,001 – $75,000
$23,045
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,244
Over $110,000
$23,667
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,37510%percentile
$4,75025%percentile
$18,752Medianpercentile
$20,42875%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $11,688
↓ $7,064
No Pell $12,584
↓ $6,168
Dependent students $10,469
↓ $8,283
Independent students $12,500
↓ $6,252
Female students $12,000
↓ $6,752
Male students $12,064
↓ $6,688
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,988, less than completers ($18,752), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
43% of full-time students who enrolled at Waldorf University graduate within six years, and 48% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
43%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
48%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Waldorf University earn a median of $51,165 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$51,165
Earning > $25K
77%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$38,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$45,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$35,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$38,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,700, about 15% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
22.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Waldorf University is home to 1,827 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 46% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,827
Part-Time
31%
First-Generation
46%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 57.3%1,047
Black 16.3%297
Other 5.6%103
Hispanic 3.6%66
Asian 1.6%29
International 0.3%6
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Waldorf University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: RemoteForest City, Iowa
Housing
Partly residential588 beds available
Adult Learners
63%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Waldorf University offers
a varied set of programs:
38 distinct programs across
14 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Waldorf University is 22:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
22:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$50,890
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
45 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
7
16%
$61,818
Associate Professors
9
20%
$53,379
Assistant Professors
26
58%
$49,420
Instructors
3
7%
$42,835
Pros & Cons of Waldorf University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Waldorf University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Waldorf University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Waldorf University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Waldorf University.
Is Waldorf University hard to get into?
Waldorf University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 77%.
What is the acceptance rate at Waldorf University?
Waldorf University has an acceptance rate of 77%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Waldorf University cost?
The average net price after aid at Waldorf University is $19,693 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Waldorf University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $51,165 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $19,693 per year. That's roughly 2.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Waldorf University known for?
Waldorf University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Business, Homeland Security. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Waldorf University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Waldorf University are $51,165, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Waldorf University accredited?
Yes. Waldorf University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Waldorf University?
Waldorf University enrolls 1,827 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Waldorf University?
Waldorf University graduates 43% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Waldorf University a public or private college?
Waldorf University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Waldorf University located?
Waldorf University is located in Forest City, Iowa.
What programs does Waldorf University offer?
Waldorf University offers 38 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Business, Homeland Security.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Waldorf University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Waldorf University is 22:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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