William Woods University
Fulton, MO 65251-2388
About William Woods University
William Woods University is a private research university in Fulton, Missouri, enrolling about 1,300 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 70.96% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $42,401 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- William Woods University charges 3% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($30,340).
- Versus the Missouri median, sticker tuition is about 2.0×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 46.81%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $42,401.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at William Woods University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 299% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Woods University | $30,340 | $26,569 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Missouri (state median) | $14,822 | $12,954 | 81 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 12% below published tuition at William Woods University
Key findings
- William Woods University's average net price ($26,569) is 12% below published tuition ($30,340).
- William Woods University charges 3% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($30,340).
- Versus the Missouri median, sticker tuition is about 2.0×.
William Woods University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $30,340
Finding William Woods University charges 3% above the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $30,340. That is 3% above the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Missouri median ($14,822), sticker tuition is about 2.0×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 2.5×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at William Woods University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at William Woods University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at William Woods University is $26,569.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $26,569 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $13,615 above the Missouri median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $11,598 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway William Woods University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 12% lower after grants and scholarships.
William Woods University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for William Woods University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$30,340
Avg. net price
$26,569
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $24,014 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $22,967 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $24,218 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $29,491 |
| $110,001+ | $29,428 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $121,360. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What William Woods University is known for
Top program completions
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General114
- Business Administration and Management, General57
- Curriculum and Instruction38
- Sign Language Interpretation and Translation36
- Superintendency and Educational System Administration26
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 27% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is William Woods University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
William Woods University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for William Woods University.
Campus
Location
Fulton, MO
City / state
- ZIP
- 65251-2388
- NCES locale
- Town distant
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is about 1.8× the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Plains
- Carnegie
- Doctoral/Professional Universities
Size
Enrollment
1,300
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 1,657
- Graduate
- 704
- Full-time share
- 80%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$21,983
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 34.82%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for William Woods University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at William Woods 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 William Woods 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 | $20,650 | $20,650 | $21,728 |
| 2014 | $21,260 | $21,260 | $21,058 |
| 2015 | $22,160 | $22,160 | $23,425 |
| 2016 | $23,040 | $23,040 | $20,461 |
| 2017 | $23,260 | $23,260 | $21,619 |
| 2018 | $24,110 | $24,110 | $21,098 |
| 2019 | $24,830 | $24,830 | $24,593 |
| 2020 | $25,930 | $25,930 | $24,454 |
| 2021 | $26,730 | $26,730 | $23,717 |
| 2022 | $27,480 | $27,480 | $23,531 |
| 2023 | $28,860 | $28,860 | $22,270 |
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
William Woods University reported total enrollment of about 1,300 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 39% male and 61% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (57.1%), Black or African American (15.3%), and Hispanic or Latino (9.5%). About 34.82% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 29.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
79.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at William Woods University in 2024 is 1,300 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,657 students. Graduate enrollment is about 704 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
58.0%
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
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
42.55% 100% Completion Time
46.81% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 42.55% of students graduating from William Woods University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General: 50% male / 50% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 46% male / 54% female
- Curriculum and Instruction: 32% male / 68% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
William Woods University graduates earn a median of $42,401 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of William Woods University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $42,401. Median federal loan debt: $21,983. Average net price used in cost models: $26,569.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway William Woods University graduates report median earnings of $42,401 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for William Woods University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (39 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at William Woods University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for William Woods University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for William Woods University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$18.8M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Missouri median 0.53× the median ($35.2M)
- Plains median 0.78× the median ($24.1M)
- U.S. median 0.71× the median ($26.4M)
- Missouri median 1.1× the median ($15,167)
- Plains median 1.1× the median ($15,020)
- U.S. median 1.4× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 35.0%
- Missouri median 30.3 pp below median (65.3%)
- Plains median 29.8 pp below median (64.7%)
- U.S. median 23.0 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $5,707
- Missouri median 0.84× the median ($6,803)
- Plains median 0.79× the median ($7,194)
- U.S. median 0.75× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $6,000
- Missouri median 0.81× the median ($7,371)
- Plains median 0.74× the median ($8,150)
- U.S. median 0.82× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
William Woods University at a glance
William Woods University
William Woods University is a private non-profit institution in Fulton, MO, classified as Doctoral/Professional Universities.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Educational Leadership and Administration, GeneralBusiness Administration and Management, GeneralCurriculum and Instruction
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian57.1%Black or African American15.3%Hispanic or Latino9.5%
Schools near William Woods University
Other campuses in Fulton, MO when available, plus nearby institutions in Missouri.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within Missouri, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is William Woods University located?
William Woods University is located in Fulton, MO.
What is William Woods University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at William Woods University is 71.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 1,133 applicants and 844 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is William Woods University's tuition?
William Woods University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $30,340 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $26,569 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does William Woods University cost?
Reported tuition is $30,340 and average net price is $26,569 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,050 annually.
Why is William Woods University's net price so much lower than tuition?
At William Woods University, published tuition is $30,340 while average net price is $26,569—about 12% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains William Woods University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($26,569), completion (46.8% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($42,401). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at William Woods University?
William Woods University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,657 students, White (57.1%), Black or African American (15.3%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend William Woods University?
About 29.8% of students at William Woods University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of William Woods University earn?
Median earnings are $39,265 six years after entry and $42,401 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at William Woods University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 46.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do William Woods University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $21,983.
Is William Woods University public or private?
William Woods University is a private nonprofit institution located in Fulton, MO.
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
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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.