About William Penn University

Founded in 1873, William Penn University. is a Private college. Located in Iowa, which is a city setting in Iowa, the campus itself is Town. The campus is home to 1,426 full time undergraduate students, and 61 full time graduate students.

The William Penn University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 16:1. There are 42 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at William Penn University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate58%
Application Deadline
Application Fee0
SAT Range720-890
ACT Range17-21

Admissions at WPU are considered Selective, with ,4% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 23 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

34% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 18% were in the top quarter, and 0% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at William Penn University.

0%
“We”re apathetic”
67%
“We know about current events and vote”
33%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
0%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
17%
“Sometimes, but not often”
83%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
0%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
17%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
83%
“I feel extremely safe”
0%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
17%
“We bought the gear”
83%
“We live for the big game”
33%
“It”s not really our thing”
0%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
50%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
17%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
50%
“They keep regular office hours”
50%
“They”re always available”
0%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
50%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
50%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
50%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
50%
“We only party on weekends”
0%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
17%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
67%
“There might be people who do”
17%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
0%
“We”re apathetic”
67%
“We know about current events and vote”
33%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
0%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
0%
“We save it for the classroom”
17%
“Sometimes, but not often”
83%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
0%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
17%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
83%
“I feel extremely safe”
0%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
17%
“We bought the gear”
83%
“We live for the big game”
33%
“It”s not really our thing”
0%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
50%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
17%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
50%
“They keep regular office hours”
50%
“They”re always available”
0%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
50%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
50%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
50%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
50%
“We only party on weekends”
0%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
17%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
67%
“There might be people who do”
17%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”

William Penn University REVIEWS

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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    14 Students rated on-campus housing 3.6 stars. 21 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    11 Students rated off-campus housing 3.6 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    16 Students rated campus food 3.3 stars. 13 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    15 Students rated campus facilities 3.9 stars. 27 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    15 Students rated class size 4.4 stars. 60 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    15 Students rated school activities 4.1 stars. 27 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    16 Students rated local services 4 stars. 31 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    15 Students rated academics 3.9 stars. 27 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of William Penn University?

5 Students rated William Penn University

Benjamin

I love this University and am so grateful for the experiences and opportunities I have been given. I feel that I am valued as I am attending school. The Dorms are well kept and my only suggestion would be to put a full kitchen in the dorms. I would love to be able to cook my own food rather than being on a meal plan. I feel I have access to all that I need to be a successful student.

Jasmine

It's a beautiful and diverse school with many things to enjoy!

Emily

William Penn is a good school with many opportunities, but the campus is mainly driven by sports. Those who go there are often there just for their sport and due to this, the professors are very understanding of things. The professors are easy to get a hold of and they often like to establish friendships with their students. The campus could use some updating but overall is a good campus. When it comes to sports it can be seen in some sports that the coaches are very biased and sometimes sexist in the ways they help their teams. However, with the new athletic director (AD), things seem to be changing as he is very easy to talk to and wants to hear the opinions of all the student-athletes. This can even be seen as the dean, the president and the AD try to make it to see each sport at least once a year. As for student-life, you are close to the Des Moines area and they try to have activities on campus as well. During finals week they have snacks in the library all week for students to snack on while studying and towards the end of the year they put together and event for all student to come have a good time right before final week starts. Overall, William Penn is a good school but the best thing to do is to get involved and make friends outside of your sport as well as with people in your sport.

ShaRon

William Penn University is a very diverse and and welcoming school. Their teachers strive for perfection and really make sure the students needs are met and questions are answered in a timely fashion. The schools academic programs are very high quality and the athletic teams on campus are very enthusiastic and have a family vibe.

William Penn University FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at William Penn University?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for William Penn University is 58%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    Kids need to pick whatever school they feel most comfortable in. It may not always be their parents favorite but it is more important that the kid feels at home there. Take as many visits to schools as you can so you can really compare and decide the best place for yourself. Imagine yourself living there for four years. If you can do that and you are happy about it, chances are it would work out well for you. Just remember that school is more than parties, sports, and classes. Classes are the most important but you will meet lots of people who will become your best friends and maybe even your spouse. So find a place you can imagine yourself living in while being able to excel in everything that you do. Shoot for being the best in everything, set your goals high, and then accomplish more than you ever dreamed. The rest of your life starts in college, so start off the rest of your life at the place that's right for you.

    Read all  15 answers
  3. Describe the students at your school.

    Penn students are either extremely hard working or pretty lazy, there is not many in between, everyone has their priorities and they are easy to see for the most part.

    Read all  4 answers
  4. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    I wish I had known more about scholarships to help with the tuition.

    Read all  4 answers
  5. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    It's very small. It can seem like a high school at times. But I like small.

    Read all  4 answers
  6. What's unique about your campus?

    The best thing about my school would be that it is a small campus in a great, peacefull, layed back community. I grew up in this community and am proud to welcome those who are new to this community and this school. The one on on attention level from the proffessors to students is excellent. I am a pure mathematics and business management major and i feel that this small college provides academic rigor and challegenges that help prepare students for the real world. Students and faculty alike are always available to help a student succede in their endeavours.

    Read all  3 answers
  7. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    A diverse, friendly, open minded, school who cares about you as an individual and who you are as a person, to help you accomplish every goal you want to achieve in life and to help you become a better you.

    Read all  2 answers
  8. What kind of person should attend this school?

    The kind of person to attend this school should be someone who wants to continue playing a sport after highschool and perfers a small campus to develop more personal relationships. Some one who wants to get involved would attend this school. A lot of out of state students attend this school. I attended this school because I wanted the out of state experience and I was a little spontanious about going to a University in Iowa, who ever goes to Iowa by choice?

    Read all  2 answers
  9. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    MY FRIENDS AND TEAMMATES AND ALL THE STUFF WE DO

    Read all  2 answers
  10. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    I think the college I attend is very unique because of the diversity of students and the professor/student ratio. There are about 25 students maximum to 1 professor so it is easier to learn, ask questions, and see your professor during office hours. Also, as I mentioned before, our school is very diverse. There are many cultures represented at my college and there are also cultural diversion days where we are able to learn more about the other cultures. It is very interesting!

    Read all  1 answers
  11. What are the academics like at your school?

    Even though I did change my major to criminal psychology I love the pre-med program and biology program the school obtains. There are hands-on labs that increases the students experiences and also improves their knowledge. I also invest a lot of my time within Penn's psychology program. I schedule meetings with the psychology professors and get more information that I will need for my grad schooling and ways to get full capacity of the lessons they are presenting to us in class. In side all classrooms class participation is always expected and students get a healthy competitive aspect of everything. While getting competitive they are learning all the material.

    Read all  1 answers
  12. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    The most popular student activities is to meet in Penn's Activity Center A.K.A The PAC! This is where we play basketball on the two courts, play football and soccer on the turf, run a few miles on the track and lift weights on the fitness floor. Also, while running and working out people usually get hungry well there is a solution for that in the PAC as well. There is the PAC cafe and they have amazing food! Fresh baked cookies, protein drinks and bars, fruits, salads, wraps, sandwiches, chips and so much more. There really is no dating scene at Penn a lot of people like to stay single. My closest friends at this school I met by being my roommate and team mate. Saturday nights there is cosmic bowling, usually it is better to go on Thursdays but Saturday is also designated. Off campus we have many parks to go and throw the ball, take our pets and enjoy the warmth of the sun while listening and watching the different variations of living organisms.

    Read all  1 answers
  13. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    Everyone complains of this school and wants to bash on it every chance they get, of how small our school is, how boring the town is and how lame Iowa is. My view is quite opposite of theirs. They are giving me an opportunity to increase my knowledge, get the chance to go to college that none of my family has been able to, and gives me the privilege of playing basketball while focusing on my grades as well. This school tries its best to provide for their students and tries their best to please their requests. No their budget may not be Oregon deep but they make the best with funding. My school started off tiny my freshmen year but as my years continue here it only grows and grows and they do not plan on stopping the recruit progress.

    Read all  1 answers
  14. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    The stereotype of this school is that it is the "jock" school. It can be correct because 98{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of this school is strictly athletes but we also focus on our grades. I would stereotype most of this school as students who got last minute recruited but work hard for what they got... we are survivors and fighters.

    Read all  1 answers
  15. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    I would have to say that we have a lot of diversity and being the white girl from upper middle class, I get treated like i'm a racist just for being white. I may be upper middle for Idaho, but anywhere else it would be middle middle or lower middle class. Sometime its almost like a reverse form of racism. It makes you feel really uncomfortable when you talk to people or have a disagreement in class. The race card gets pulled quite a bit it feels like sometimes.

    Read all  1 answers
  16. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    People who like living in big cities and like big time schools should not attend as the city is very small as is the school.

    Read all  1 answers

Student Body

Students

49%

female

51%

male

1,426

Total Undergrad Enrollment

61

Total Grad Students

65%

Out-Of-State

32%

In-State

3%

International

Organizations

33

Student Organizations

2

Fraternities

3

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

25%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
1%
% Asian/Pacific Islander
1%
% Black or African-American
17%
% Hispanic/Latino
9%
% White or Caucasian
62%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

100% of students attending William Penn University receive some sort of financial aid. 57% were awarded federal grants. While 91% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$24,510

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,206

Books and Supplies

$6,666

Room and Board

32,382

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$19,667
$30 - $48K
$19,909
$48 - $75K
$20,401
$75 - $110K
$21,787
$110K & UP
$23,322

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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