William Penn University — ROI, Cost & Payback
William Penn University charges a net price of $22,601/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $90,404. Graduates earn a median $48,936 ten years after entry, $576/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 157 years — a 20-year net return of -$78,884, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
William Penn University's 157-year payback ranks #1,247 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 3% of them, and #27 of 47 in Iowa.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $22,601/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $90,404 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $48,936 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $576/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $22,415 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 157 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$78,884 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on William Penn University's own numbers. Net price $22,601 × 4 years = $90,404 total. Median earnings $48,936 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $576 a year of premium. $90,404 ÷ $576 = 157 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$78,884. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do William Penn University students graduate with?
A median $22,415 in federal loans among completers, or 46% of the $48,936 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of William Penn University students graduate?
33% finish their degree — 67% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $90,404 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $273,952 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is William Penn University expensive compared with other Iowa colleges?
Its $22,601 net price runs $4,012 above the $18,589 median across the 47 Iowa colleges we profile, or $16,048 more across the full degree.