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Wilberforce University

Private Nonprofit Graduate Strong 73/100

Wilberforce University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Wilberforce, Ohio

About Wilberforce University

Wilberforce University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Wilberforce, Ohio. It enrolls 822 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: wilberforce.edu

Acceptance: 40.5%
Graduation: 35.7%
Net Price: $5,567
Median Earnings (10yr): $38,298
Enrollment: 822
Student : Faculty: 12:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

73/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 17

Value 97

Affordability 98

Selectivity 46

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 40.5%, Wilberforce University is a selective institution.

Acceptance Rate

40.5%

Selective

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Wilberforce University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 13.7 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Wilberforce University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $5,567 per year. That's well below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$5,567

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

74%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

97%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $16,448
Room & Board (on-campus): $8,564
Room & Board (off-campus): $8,224
Books & Supplies: $1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus): $2,000
Other Expenses (off-campus): $2,000
Total Cost of Attendance: $25,676

Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$5,630
$30,001 – $48,000

$5,313
$48,001 – $75,000

$5,211
$75,001 – $110,000

$5,217
Over $110,000

$5,226

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$3,500

10% percentile

$5,500

25% percentile

$26,468

Median percentile

$22,367

75% percentile

$45,612

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $12,001 ↓ $14,467

No Pell $11,245 ↓ $15,223

Dependent students $11,000 ↓ $15,468

Independent students $16,500 ↓ $9,968

Female students $11,490 ↓ $14,978

Male students $12,451 ↓ $14,017

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($26,468), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

36% of full-time students who enrolled at Wilberforce University graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

36%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

72%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Wilberforce University earn a median of $38,298 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$38,298

Earning > $25K

61%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$37,000

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$40,700

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$35,100

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$39,900

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$42,700

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 21.9 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Moderate. Only 60% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Wilberforce University is home to 822 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 46% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

822

Part-Time

16%

First-Generation

46%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

Black 99.3% 816

International 0.4% 3

White 0.2% 2

Other 0.1% 1

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Wilberforce University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Rural: Fringe Wilberforce, Ohio

Housing

Mostly residential 400 beds on campus

Adult Learners

10% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Historically Black College / University (HBCU)

Designation

Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

Wilberforce University offers a varied set of programs: 14 distinct programs across 8 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

4 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Management Information Systems $83K ($59K–$112K)
Marketing $69K ($50K–$93K)

3 Programs

Health

Public Health $59K ($42K–$79K)
Rehabilitation $56K ($40K–$74K)
Rehabilitation $56K ($40K–$74K)

1 Program

Communication

Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)

1 Program

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)

1 Program

Public Administration

Social Work $52K ($39K–$64K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Wilberforce University is 12:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

12:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$11M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$55,737

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

38 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	5	13%	$64,854
Associate Professors	7	18%	$54,557
Assistant Professors	10	26%	$57,780
Instructors	16	42%	$52,128

Pros & Cons of Wilberforce University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Wilberforce University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Very affordable net price after aid
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body

CONS

Selective admissions, solid academic profile expected
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side

Best for: Based on the data, Wilberforce University is a fit for families focused on keeping net cost low; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Wilberforce University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Wilberforce University.

Is Wilberforce University hard to get into?

Wilberforce University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 40.5%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.

What is the acceptance rate at Wilberforce University?

Wilberforce University has an acceptance rate of 40.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does Wilberforce University cost?

The average net price after aid at Wilberforce University is $5,567 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Wilberforce University worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,298 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $5,567 per year. That's roughly 6.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Wilberforce University known for?

Wilberforce University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Public Health, Communication & Media. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Wilberforce University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Wilberforce University are $38,298, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Wilberforce University accredited?

Yes. Wilberforce University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Wilberforce University?

Wilberforce University enrolls 822 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Wilberforce University?

Wilberforce University graduates 36% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Wilberforce University a public or private college?

Wilberforce University is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Wilberforce University located?

Wilberforce University is located in Wilberforce, Ohio.

What programs does Wilberforce University offer?

Wilberforce University offers 14 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Public Health, Communication & Media.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Wilberforce University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Wilberforce University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.