William Penn University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Oskaloosa, Iowa. It enrolls 1,301 students (a small, tight-knit 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
50/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes8
Value27
Affordability59
Selectivity44
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 51.9%, William Penn University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
51.9%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
880 – 1110
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
16 – 22
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether William Penn University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
1.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending William Penn 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 $22,601 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$22,601
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
47%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
88%
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
$29,750
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,222
Room & Board (off-campus)
$7,724
Books & Supplies
$1,560
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,668
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,166
Total Cost of Attendance
$42,874
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
$20,608
$30,001 – $48,000
$19,378
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,560
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,245
Over $110,000
$25,916
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.
$3,60010%percentile
$5,95025%percentile
$22,415Medianpercentile
$25,56375%percentile
$36,88990%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 $12,000
↓ $10,415
No Pell $12,000
↓ $10,415
Dependent students $11,000
↓ $11,415
Independent students $19,594
↓ $2,821
Female students $14,869
↓ $7,546
Male students $10,500
↓ $11,915
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,858, less than completers ($22,415), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
28% of full-time students who enrolled at William Penn University graduate within six years, and 57% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
28%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
57%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered William Penn University earn a median of $48,936 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$48,936
Earning > $25K
75%
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
$41,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$50,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$57,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,400, about 18% 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 ↑
23.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
William Penn University is home to 1,301 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,301
Part-Time
5%
First-Generation
38%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 56.0%728
Black 18.2%237
Hispanic 9.4%122
Other 7.8%102
International 6.3%82
Asian 0.2%3
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at William Penn University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteOskaloosa, Iowa
Housing
Mostly residential834 beds on campus
Adult Learners
22%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
William Penn University offers
a varied set of programs:
26 distinct programs across
15 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 William Penn University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$35M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$57,448
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
46 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
5
11%
$65,873
Associate Professors
6
13%
$64,286
Assistant Professors
15
33%
$54,275
Instructors
20
43%
$55,671
Pros & Cons of William Penn University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how William Penn University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, William Penn University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about William Penn University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about William Penn University.
Is William Penn University hard to get into?
Admissions at William Penn University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 51.9%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at William Penn University?
William Penn University has an acceptance rate of 51.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for William Penn University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at William Penn University scored between 880 and 1110 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for William Penn University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at William Penn University scored between 16 and 22 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does William Penn University cost?
The average net price after aid at William Penn University is $22,601 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is William Penn University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $48,936 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $22,601 per year. That's roughly 2.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is William Penn University known for?
William Penn University is best known for its programs in Teacher Education (K-12), Business Administration, Kinesiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do William Penn University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering William Penn University are $48,936, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is William Penn University accredited?
Yes. William Penn University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend William Penn University?
William Penn University enrolls 1,301 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at William Penn University?
William Penn University graduates 28% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is William Penn University a public or private college?
William Penn University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is William Penn University located?
William Penn University is located in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
What programs does William Penn University offer?
William Penn University offers 26 distinct programs. The most popular include Teacher Education (K-12), Business Administration, Kinesiology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at William Penn University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at William Penn University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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