William Woods University
Fulton, Missouri · Private Nonprofit · 71.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 26/100 · Poor Value
William Woods University posts an ROI score of 26 in the Poor Value tier, a result driven mostly by a 33.3-year payback period and a 46.8% completion rate. Sticker tuition is $30,340 and net price is $26,569 -- meaning aid only knocks about $3,800 off the published rate, which is unusually thin for a private college and suggests the institutional discount budget is limited. Graduates earn $33,100 six years out and $42,401 by year ten, an earnings premium of just 7% over the high-school baseline. Median debt of $21,983 is moderate by private-college standards, but against those earnings the debt-to-earnings ratio still lands at 66.4%. The 76% three-year repayment rate is the lone bright spot -- borrowers are actively paying, even if slowly. The 33.3-year payback figure means a typical graduate, on the typical earnings premium, takes more than three decades to recoup the total cost of attendance. That number is the headline risk: William Woods works on a per-program basis for the right majors (business, ASL, biology), but the school-wide average drags hard on graduates who finish in lower-earning tracks.
The data raises concerns about William Woods University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score26/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period33.3 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
William Woods University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $30,340/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $30,340/yr |
| Average net price | $26,569/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $106,276 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $42,401 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,983 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $233 |
| Estimated payback period | 33.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 46.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,300 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at William Woods University is $30,340/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $26,569/year, or roughly $106,276 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $24,014/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,428/year.
The median graduate leaves with $21,983 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $233 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $42,401 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.66 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $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 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $24,014 net -- the highest of the lowest two brackets, which is a mild inversion worth flagging. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket actually pays less ($22,967). For low-income families, four-year cost runs about $96,000. Pell-eligible students will be carrying significant unmet need, and with median graduate earnings of $33,100 and a 33-year payback, the math is hostile.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families in the $48,001-$75,000 bracket pay $24,218 -- roughly flat with the lowest two brackets. The $75,001-$110,000 bracket jumps to $29,491. Four-year cost ranges from $96,900 to $118,000. The pricing curve is unusually flat at the bottom and then climbs sharply at upper-middle, suggesting need-based aid evaporates above $75,000 in family income. Middle-income students bear most of the financial weight here without the aid cushion lower-income peers receive.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $29,428 -- slightly less than the $75,001-$110,000 bracket above it, which is a small but real bracket inversion suggesting the aid curve flattens or reverses at the top. Four-year cost of about $117,700 against $42,401 in ten-year earnings produces a tough value proposition. High-income families should compare against University of Missouri or Truman State, both of which produce materially better ROI.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at William Woods University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| American Sign Language | $49,889 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $54,853 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $51,841 | F |
| Biology | $56,378 | - |
| Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services | $33,757 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
American Sign Language
ASL is William Woods's largest program at 31 graduates, with first-year earnings of $36,948 and four-year earnings of $49,889. Median debt of $25,287 yields a 0.684 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C grade. This is the school's signature program -- William Woods is one of a handful of US colleges with a serious ASL and Deaf Studies track, and graduates place into interpretation, education, and social services roles. The earnings are not high in absolute terms, but they are above the school-wide median, and the program serves a clear pipeline.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business produces 28 graduates with $40,010 in first-year earnings -- the strongest first-year figure in the program list. Four-year earnings reach $54,853 and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62 produces a C grade. Median debt of $24,812 is in line with school averages. Business at William Woods is the conventional safe bet: graduates clear $40,000 in year one and continue earning growth, which is the minimum threshold for a private-college business degree to make financial sense.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology graduates 19 students with first-year earnings of just $24,329 -- below median household income -- and a 1.05 debt-to-earnings ratio. The F grade reflects debt that exceeds early-career earnings. Four-year earnings recover to $51,841, which is healthier, but the early-career squeeze is severe. Kinesiology degrees are typically a stepping stone to physical therapy or athletic training graduate programs; students stopping at the bachelor's bear the full early-career penalty.
Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services
Animal Services is a niche program with 11 graduates, first-year earnings of $30,545, and four-year earnings of just $33,757 -- almost no earnings growth from year one to year four. The D grade reflects a 0.864 debt-to-earnings ratio on $26,406 in debt. The program likely serves William Woods's equestrian and pre-vet tracks; students bound for veterinary school will see the math work eventually, but bachelor's-only graduates face a flat earnings trajectory.
Biology
Biology produces 14 graduates with four-year earnings of $56,378 -- the strongest four-year figure in the program list. First-year earnings, debt, and ROI grade are not reported in current Scorecard data, likely due to small sample size. The $56,378 figure suggests biology grads at William Woods route into successful pre-health and graduate-school pipelines, which is consistent with the school's strong pre-vet and pre-med advising tradition.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 70.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 76.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 70.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 71.5% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 71.0% |
| Enrollment | 1,300 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 34.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,707 |
William Woods admits 71% of applicants, putting it in the moderately selective range. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported in current Scorecard data, which is typical for small private colleges that have moved to test-optional or test-blind admissions. The 71% admit rate combined with a 47% completion rate suggests an enrollment-and-yield gap: the school admits broadly, but a meaningful share of admits do not finish.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Within its peer set, William Woods sits in the lower-middle range. Avila University (also Missouri) and Indiana Institute of Technology generally score in similar Poor-to-Below-Average tiers, with completion and earnings outcomes that mirror William Woods. Mary Baldwin University posts somewhat stronger results, particularly on completion. Mission University and Atlantic University are smaller religiously affiliated institutions that tend to score lower. The peer cluster as a whole reflects the structural challenge facing small Midwestern and Southern private colleges with sub-50% completion rates.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Woods University (this school) | 26 | $26,569 | $42,401 |
| Avila University | 51 | $16,053 | $52,773 |
| Indiana Institute of Technology | 26 | $23,206 | $47,327 |
| Atlantic University | 26 | $6,425 | $25,272 |
| Mary Baldwin University | 25 | $12,756 | $44,427 |
| Mission University | 15 | $21,383 | $38,641 |
Who Thrives Here
William Woods enrolls 1,300 students with a 34.8% Pell rate -- moderate, indicating a mix of low- and middle-income families. The Fulton, Missouri location and the school's traditional strengths in equestrian studies, American Sign Language, and pre-veterinary tracks make it a niche fit for specific career interests. Students drawn to the ASL program in particular get a useful credential: the 31 graduates in that track post a C-grade ROI with $36,948 in first-year earnings, well above the school-wide median. Students entering with no clear major focus face the school-wide odds: less than half finish, and those who do face a 33-year payback timeline.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about William Woods University. With a net cost of $26,569 per year and median graduate earnings of only $42,401 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 33.3 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 46.8% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and a long payback period.
Median debt of $21,983 against $42,401 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.