Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Oskaloosa, Iowa
57% Acceptance Rate
William Penn University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
57%Acceptance Rate
3Avg GPA
996Avg SAT
19Avg ACT
$40,749Annual Cost
$48,936Grad Salary
45.6%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
57%
Avg GPA
3
Avg SAT
996
Avg ACT
19
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
830–1100
ACT Middle 50%
16–22
Need-Based Aid
45.6% receive Pell
William Penn University, founded in 1873 by Quaker settlers, maintains its peace testimony tradition while offering career-focused programs. Home to Iowa's only four-year industrial technology degree.
The 60-acre campus includes the newly renovated Penn Activity Center, agricultural learning labs, and innovative trades education facilities. Service learning is integrated across all academic programs.
William Penn University Acceptance Rate
William Penn University takes a broad view of applicants, admitting about 57% each year.
What William Penn University Admissions Looks For
- Whole-Person Review: Personal circumstances and career goals are weighed alongside grades.
- Flexible on GPA: Strong extracurriculars or work experience can offset an average transcript.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 57% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.00 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.80 – 2.99
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.55
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
William Penn University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
William Penn University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
William Penn University reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (February 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
William Penn University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at William Penn University is 3. That makes admissions here moderately selective. Most admitted students carry a blend of A's, B's, and the occasional C.
A stronger SAT or ACT score can comfortably offset a GPA on the lower end of this range.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.20–3.40.William Penn University GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.00 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.80 – 2.99
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.60 – 2.79
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.59
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Founded 1873, affiliated with the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers); located in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
- Member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (NAIA), sponsoring 26 intercollegiate teams - athletics is a major part of the institutional identity.
- Test-optional for general admission; median SAT around 990, median ACT around 18 among those who submit.
- Freshman on-campus residency is mandatory unless the student is 21+ or lives with parents within about 30 miles.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at William Penn University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on William Penn University's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
William Penn University Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if William Penn University is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into William Penn University Without SAT or ACT?
William Penn University considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
William Penn University Average SAT Score: 996
The average SAT score of admitted students at William Penn University is 996 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 996 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1100 SAT or 22 ACT) to stand out. Below average? William Penn University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 830, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at William Penn University. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 475 | 390 | 560 |
| SAT Reading | 490 | 440 | 540 |
| SAT Composite | 996 | 830 | 1100 |
Below 830, you're behind most admitted students; at 1100 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1000
Can I get into William Penn University with a 1100 SAT?
A 1100 SAT puts you ahead of most of William Penn University's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
William Penn University ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at William Penn University is 19.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 19 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national ACT mean.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 19 | 15 | 23 |
| ACT English | 17 | 13 | 21 |
| ACT Composite | 19 | 16 | 22 |
Can I get into William Penn University with a 22 ACT?
A 22 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of William Penn University's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at William Penn University.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for William Penn University
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
William Penn University is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Use the two-of-three NAIA eligibility rule for incoming student-athletes
Freshman athletes need to meet 2 of 3 criteria to be eligible their first semester: an ACT of 18+ or SAT of 1290+, a 2.0 GPA on the final transcript, or graduating in the upper half of their class - a recruited athlete missing one criterion should confirm they clearly meet the other two before assuming eligibility is settled.
Register through PlayNAIA well before enrollment, budgeting for the fee
All NAIA-level student-athletes must be certified as eligible through the separate PlayNAIA platform, with fees varying by domestic freshman ($80), transfer ($120), or international freshman ($135) status - this is a distinct registration step from William Penn's own application and is easy to overlook until eligibility is questioned later.
Understand the on-campus residency requirement before assuming commuter status is an option
Freshmen must live on campus unless they're over 21 or live with parents within roughly 30 miles - a prospective student hoping to commute from further away needs this flagged early, since it affects both cost planning and housing applications.
Recognize the Quaker (Religious Society of Friends) affiliation shapes campus culture, not admission criteria
Weekly worship and chapel services are offered but attendance is not mandatory - a student or family concerned about religious pressure should know this is a values-and-community layer rather than an admissions or academic gatekeeping factor.
Expert Insight:
Because William Penn's general acceptance rate sits near 52-58% and test scores are officially "considered but not required," families sometimes underestimate that recruited athletes face a separate, harder eligibility gate through NAIA/PlayNAIA - a student with borderline academic stats and an athletic recruitment plan needs both tracks handled, not just the general application.
William Penn University Profile
Full Name
William Penn University
City
Oskaloosa
State
Iowa
ZIP Code
52577
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a William Penn University Degree Worth It?
At $40,749/year against a $48,936 median graduate salary, William Penn University is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $58,600, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.18%.
How much does a degree from William Penn University Cost?
The sticker price is $40,749/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
45.6% of students receive a Pell Grant and 88.2% take federal loans at William Penn University. File your FAFSA early and list William Penn University as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a William Penn University Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $48,936. That's about 21% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than William Penn University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama A & M University | Normal, AL | 947 | 17 |
| Alabama State University | Montgomery, AL | 977 | 18 |
| Baptist Health College Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 980 | 20 |
| University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | 985 | NA |
| Delaware State University | Dover, DE | 984 | 24 |
| Clayton State University | Morrow, GA | 973 | 18 |
| Gordon State College | Barnesville, GA | 950 | 18 |
| University of Hawaii-West Oahu | Kapolei, HI | 973 | 18 |
| Judson University | Elgin, IL | 985 | 20 |
| Rockford University | Rockford, IL | 984 | 20 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as William Penn University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado State University Pueblo | Pueblo, CO | 1005 | 22 |
| Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College | Tifton, GA | 994 | 19 |
| College of Coastal Georgia | Brunswick, GA | 1001 | 18 |
| Columbus State University | Columbus, GA | 994 | 21 |
| Georgia Southwestern State University | Americus, GA | 998 | 19 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than William Penn University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 1049 | 21 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
Degree Programs at William Penn University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About William Penn University Admissions
Median earnings for William Penn University graduates sit around $48,936 a year.
William Penn University costs roughly $40,749 a year, and most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
About 45.6% receive a Pell Grant at William Penn University. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 57%, William Penn University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at William Penn University average a 3 GPA.
William Penn University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 2.7 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.6, William Penn University becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at William Penn University — aim above 996, ideally within the 830–1100 range admitted students typically fall in.
William Penn University follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is February 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.