Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Raleigh, North Carolina
97.4% Acceptance Rate
William Peace University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
97.4%Acceptance Rate
3.67Avg GPA
1198Avg SAT
25Avg ACT
$49,103Annual Cost
$46,643Grad Salary
34.5%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
97.4%
Avg GPA
3.67
Avg SAT
1198
Avg ACT
25
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
1140–1280
ACT Middle 50%
22–27
Need-Based Aid
34.5% receive Pell
William Peace University, established in 1857 in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a liberal arts institution offering business, education, and criminal justice programs.
The 19-acre urban campus features the Main Building with its historic rotunda, modern science labs, and the new Falcon Center for student life. Its location provides access to state government and business internships.
William Peace University Acceptance Rate
William Peace University (Peace) runs an open-access admission policy. With a 97.4% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 97.4% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.67 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.47 – 3.66
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.22
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
William Peace University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
William Peace University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of March 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 206 days left — Rolling (Fall priority)
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Peace 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.
Rolling (Fall priority)
March 1
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Peace GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Peace is 3.67. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.37 and 3.67? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
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 3.87–4.07.Peace GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.67 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.47 – 3.66
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.27 – 3.46
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.26
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- All traditional undergraduates complete a 120-hour, for-credit internship as a graduation requirement - a structural feature of the degree, not an optional add-on.
- Rolling admissions with no hard deadline; $50 application fee; March 1 (Fall) / November 1 (Spring) recommended for best scholarship consideration.
- Essay/personal statement is optional for most applicants but required for some freshmen per CollegeData; one letter of recommendation is recommended for all freshmen.
- Offers distinctive small-college majors like Esports and Gaming Administration; originally founded in 1857 as a women's college, now fully coeducational.
- 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 Peace
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on William Peace 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 Peace University (Peace) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Peace is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Peace Without SAT or ACT?
Peace considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
William Peace University Average SAT Score: 1198
The average SAT score of admitted students at William Peace University is 1198 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1198 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1280 SAT or 27 ACT) to stand out. Below average? William Peace 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 1140, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Peace. 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 | 595 | 550 | 640 |
| SAT Reading | 615 | 590 | 640 |
| SAT Composite | 1198 | 1140 | 1280 |
Below 1140, you're behind most admitted students; at 1280 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 1200
Can I get into William Peace University (Peace) with a 1300 SAT?
A 1300 SAT puts you ahead of most of Peace'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 Peace University (Peace) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Peace is 25.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 25 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average ACT score.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 21 | 18 | 24 |
| ACT English | 23 | 19 | 27 |
| ACT Composite | 25 | 22 | 27 |
Can I get into William Peace University with a 27 ACT?
A 27 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Peace'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 Peace.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Peace
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Peace provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about using available resources well and planning your longer-term academic or career path.
Treat the mandatory internship as a major-choice factor, not an afterthought
WPU builds a 120-hour, for-credit internship into the graduation requirement for essentially all traditional undergraduates (95% of internship supervisors said they'd consider the student for permanent hire). Before enrolling, ask admissions specifically which internship sites are typically available for your intended major - WPU's 96% placement outcome is built on the quality of that internship match, not the degree alone.
Submit the "optional" essay if you're anywhere near the borderline
CollegeData's own disclosure confirms the personal essay is required for some freshmen, not universally optional as WPU's marketing implies - this almost certainly applies to applicants below the school's mid-50% range (SAT 1080-1225 / ACT 22-27, average GPA 3.67). Students in that zone should submit the essay, the recommended letter of recommendation, and a co-curricular resume as a package, since these become effective tie-breakers once academic numbers alone don't settle the decision.
Verify capacity for niche majors like Esports and Gaming Administration
WPU offers unusually specific programs for a college this size, including Esports and Gaming Administration. Students drawn to a niche major like this should ask directly about current faculty headcount and facility readiness - small colleges can market a distinctive major well before it has the same depth as their core liberal-arts programs.
Apply by the recommended (not hard) deadline to protect scholarship range
WPU's admissions truly never closes, but it recommends March 1 (Fall) / November 1 (Spring) specifically because merit scholarships ($4,000?$18,000) are allocated by the admissions committee and can tighten for later applicants even though the application itself stays open. Treat the "recommended" date as the real deadline for financial planning purposes.
Expert Insight:
A specific risk at a career-focused college like this: students often assume the mandatory internship is arranged automatically by the school. In practice, the student must actively coordinate with Career Services to secure a placement fitting their schedule and major, and delays in starting that process - especially for students juggling outside work or family obligations - can push back graduation. Start the internship-placement conversation in year one, not junior year.
Peace Profile
Full Name
William Peace University (Peace)
City
Raleigh
State
North Carolina
ZIP Code
27604-1194
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a Peace Degree Worth It?
Peace offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes. The figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $63,600, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.35%.
How much does a degree from Peace Cost?
The sticker price is $49,103/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
34.5% of students receive a Pell Grant and 62.3% take federal loans at Peace. File your FAFSA early and list Peace as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Peace Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $46,643. That's about 15% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than William Peace University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 1150 | 24 |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | 1149 | 23 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
| Spelman College | Atlanta, GA | 1184 | 24 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as William Peace University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT | 1200 | NA |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford, CT | 1207 | 29 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than William Peace University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
Degree Programs at Peace
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Peace Admissions
Median earnings for William Peace University graduates sit around $46,643 a year.
William Peace University costs roughly $49,103 a year, and most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
About 34.5% receive a Pell Grant at William Peace University. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 97.4%, William Peace University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at William Peace University average a 3.67 GPA.
William Peace University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.37 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.27, William Peace 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 Peace University — aim above 1198, ideally within the 1140–1280 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for William Peace University is March 1. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
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.
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