William Woods University — ROI, Cost & Payback
William Woods University charges a net price of $26,569/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $106,276. Median earnings ten years after entry are $42,401, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, William Woods University does not clear its cost — it ranks #47 of 71 Missouri colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $26,569/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $106,276 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $42,401 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$5,959/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $21,983 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$225,456 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on William Woods University's own numbers. Net price $26,569 × 4 years = $106,276 total. Median earnings $42,401 fall $5,959 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $106,276 bill in about 10.6 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do William Woods University students graduate with?
A median $21,983 in federal loans among completers, or 52% of the $42,401 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of William Woods University students graduate?
47% finish their degree — 53% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $106,276 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $226,119 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is William Woods University expensive compared with other Missouri colleges?
Its $26,569 net price runs $8,483 above the $18,086 median across the 71 Missouri colleges we profile, or $33,932 more across the full degree.