Waldorf University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Waldorf University is a private for-profit university in Forest City, Iowa, enrolling about 1,827 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 76.98% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $51,165 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $25,978
- 2024 Average Net Price: $19,693 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 76.98% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 1,827 68.6% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 21.14%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
- First-Generation Students: 46.3%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 2.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 17.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 37.0%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,892
- Applicants (IPEDS): 1,033
- Room & Board: $9,920 annual estimate
Waldorf University: what the data shows
Common questions about Waldorf University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Waldorf University?
Waldorf University is located in Forest City, IA (ZIP 50436-1713).
Is Waldorf University public or private?
Waldorf University is a Private For-profit institution.
How much does Waldorf University cost?
Published tuition: $25,978.
Average net price after aid: $19,693.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $16,448 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $18,378 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $23,045 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $21,244 |
| $110,001+ | $23,667 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $103,912.
How hard is it to get into Waldorf University?
Admission rate: 76.98%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Waldorf University?
Total enrollment: 1,827 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 2,892 students.
Graduate enrollment: 391 students.
About 69% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Waldorf University?
150%-time completion rate: 21.14%.
First-year retention: 44.1%.
What do graduates of Waldorf University earn?
Median earnings: $50,515 six years after entry; $51,165 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $18,752.
35.52% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Waldorf University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician (148 completions)
- Organizational Leadership (123 completions)
- Business/Commerce, General (86 completions)
- Psychology, General (77 completions)
- Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management (71 completions)
- Fire Services Administration (64 completions)
- Health/Health Care Administration/Management (42 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (42 completions)
- Critical Infrastructure Protection (41 completions)
- Organizational Behavior Studies (39 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Waldorf University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 76.98%; completion rate 21.14%; median earnings $51,165 at 10 years; net price $19,693. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$25,978
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Waldorf University was $25,978.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$19,693
2024 Value
In 2024 Waldorf University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $19,693.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$78,772 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$19,693 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$103,912 4-Year Tuition
$9,920 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,286 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$37,184 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$148,736 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Waldorf University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
35.52% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
39.34% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Waldorf University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Waldorf University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $20,316 | $20,316 | $19,306 |
| 2014 | $20,316 | $20,316 | $20,580 |
| 2015 | $20,884 | $20,884 | $20,832 |
| 2016 | $21,260 | $21,260 | $16,954 |
| 2017 | $21,664 | $21,664 | $19,135 |
| 2018 | $22,076 | $22,076 | $20,534 |
| 2019 | $22,352 | $22,352 | $20,036 |
| 2020 | $23,088 | $23,088 | $20,541 |
| 2021 | $23,666 | $23,666 | $21,604 |
| 2022 | $24,526 | $24,526 | $18,493 |
| 2023 | $25,220 | $25,220 | $21,683 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
76.98% Acceptance Rate
1,033 Total Applicants
750 Students Admitted
180 First-Time Students Enrolled
24.00% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Waldorf University reported total enrollment of about 1,827 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 63% male and 37% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (57.3%), Black or African American (16.3%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (15.3%). About 35.52% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 46.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
68.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Waldorf University in 2024 is 1,827 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 2,892 students. Graduate enrollment is about 391 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
44.1%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 57.3%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
20.86% 100% Completion Time
21.14% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 20.86% of students graduating from Waldorf University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician: 75% male / 25% female
- Organizational Leadership: 67% male / 33% female
- Business/Commerce, General: 58% male / 42% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Waldorf University.
Return on Investment
$18,752 Median Student Debt
$51,165 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
36.65% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
549.53% Return on Investment
3.7 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Waldorf University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 31 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician: 148 completions
2. Organizational Leadership: 123 completions
3. Business/Commerce, General: 86 completions
4. Psychology, General: 77 completions
5. Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management: 71 completions
6. Fire Services Administration: 64 completions
7. Health/Health Care Administration/Management: 42 completions
8. Business Administration and Management, General: 42 completions
9. Critical Infrastructure Protection: 41 completions
Most popular programs at Waldorf University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Waldorf University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Waldorf University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 37.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $5,766
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $3,138
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Waldorf University is a private for-profit institution located in Forest City, IA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Occupational Safety and Health Technology/Technician, Organizational Leadership, Business/Commerce, General. Enrollment is approximately 1,827 students. Student body composition includes White (57.3%), Black or African American (16.3%), Race/ethnicity unknown (15.3%). The admission rate is 76.98%. The 150%-time completion rate is 21.14%. Approximately 35.52% of students receive Pell Grants. About 46.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private For-profit
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
Location
Forest City, IA 50436-1713
Region: Plains
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 21.14% graduation rate at Waldorf University falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Waldorf University located?
Waldorf University is located in Forest City, IA.
What is Waldorf University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Waldorf University is 77.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 1,033 applicants and 750 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Waldorf University cost?
Reported tuition is $25,978 and average net price is $19,693 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $9,920 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Waldorf University?
Waldorf University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 2,892 students, White (57.3%), Black or African American (16.3%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Waldorf University?
About 46.3% of students at Waldorf University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Waldorf University earn?
Median earnings are $50,515 six years after entry and $51,165 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Waldorf University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 21.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Waldorf University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $18,752.
Is Waldorf University public or private?
Waldorf University is a private for-profit institution located in Forest City, IA.
Is Waldorf University an HBCU?
No. Waldorf University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Waldorf University a tribal college?
No. Waldorf University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Waldorf University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Waldorf University does not meet that proxy (reported share 3.6%).
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Iowa college costs
- Iowa colleges by ROI
- Plains regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Iowa
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.