William Penn University
A good fit for students who want small classes and close faculty access. graduation rate is below 40%; freshman retention is below 65%. a private nonprofit school with 1,301 students.
About This School
William Penn University is a private nonprofit institution located in Oskaloosa, Iowa with approximately 1,301 undergraduate students enrolled. William Penn University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 52%. The average net price after financial aid is $22,601 per year. The graduation rate is 33%, and the typical graduate earns $46,400 within 10 years of enrollment.
William Penn University is a private university in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States. It was founded by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1873 as Penn College. In 1933, the name was changed to William Penn College, and finally to William Penn University in 2000.
The numbers here tell a mixed story — a 29% graduation rate and 56% freshman retention rate suggest many students struggle to finish, which is a serious concern worth discussing before enrolling. On the positive side, median debt at graduation is a relatively low $12,000, and the small, Quaker-rooted campus in Oskaloosa may appeal to students who want a tight-knit community with personalized attention. Worth considering if you have a clear plan for staying on track, but ask hard questions about academic support and what's driving that low completion rate.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 18% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
William Penn University graduates earn most above the national rate in Business Administration, Management and Operations ($79,791 vs $68,257 nationally), and most below it in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($76,625 vs $88,910).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 62 | $45,099 | $47,382 | −$2,283 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 46 | $79,791 | $68,257 | +$11,534 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 35 | $46,244 | $54,562 | −$8,318 |
| Psychology, General | 21 | $49,929 | $50,706 | −$777 |
| Biology, General | 17 | $53,683 | $57,214 | −$3,531 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 9 | $76,625 | $88,910 | −$12,285 |
| Sociology | 2 | $49,077 | $52,657 | −$3,580 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (1,301 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
William Penn University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at William Penn University?
William Penn University has an acceptance rate of 52%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is William Penn University hard to get into?
William Penn University is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 52%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does William Penn University cost?
The average net price at William Penn University is about $22,601 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at William Penn University?
William Penn University has a graduation rate of 33%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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