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PrivateRuralHBCU

Wilberforce University

Wilberforce, Ohio 45384-1001

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Business-focusedTight-knitRuralHBCU

Known for business — close-knit campus

Wilberforce University is a private institution in Wilberforce with particular strength in business and health sciences. With an average SAT of 980, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A small campus of 602 undergraduates with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio. The rural location provides a peaceful, focused academic environment.

16% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $38,298 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $7,349.

Established
1856
Motto
Suo Marte
Type
Private historically black university
Conference
National Association of

Campus Visits

46 upcoming visits · Next: Fri, May 29 · Campus Tour

Plan Your Visit

53%Acceptance
980SAT Avg
602Students
12:1Student:Faculty
16%Grad Rate
$38,298Earnings 10yr
$7,349Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate52.7%

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 18
1521

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$14,776
Room & Board$7,700
Books & Supplies$1,200
Total Cost of Attendance$23,450
Average Net Price$7,349
Median Debt at Graduation$26,468
Monthly Payment (10yr)$281

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$5,606
$30–48K$9,908
$48–75K$10,244
$75–110K$10,794
$110K+$13,684

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

38.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

4.0%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$12,000

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

3

Peer Average

3

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

1

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

0

Motor Vehicle Theft

0

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

1

Drug Arrests

1

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (28)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

70%

Below Average

Student Body

Undergrads
602
Gender Split
50% / 50%
Women / Men
First Generation
46%
Pell Grant Recipients
74%

Race & Ethnicity

Black 79%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate16.0%
Freshman Retention69.6%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$35,146
10 Years$38,298

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#29
vs 2024

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

  • History 19th century Background At the time Ohio became a state in 1802, it did so as a free state with the slave states of Kentucky and Virginia along its southern border.
  • The Ohio General Assembly formally mandated the establishment of public schools for Ohio's black population in 1854.
  • Cincinnati High School opened that same year as the first public school for black students in Ohio.
  • The Ohio Conference of the AME Church founded Union Seminary in West Jefferson, Ohio in 1847, but the school failed to thrive and closed in 1863.
  • The first of these schools were Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (founded 1837) and Lincoln University in Pennsylvania (founded 1854).

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

89Low

Estimated from OH state average

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 30"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Columbuspop. 900K
50 mi(87 min)
Indianapolispop. 880K
121 mi(210 min)
Clevelandpop. 370K
169 mi(293 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

CMH Columbus56 mi
CVG Cincinnati62 mi
IND Indianapolis128 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA692 mi · ~19h 59m drive
New York, NY525 mi · ~15h 10m drive
Hartford, CT603 mi · ~17h 25m drive
Providence, RI668 mi · ~19h 18m drive
Albany, NY564 mi · ~16h 18m drive
Syracuse, NY462 mi · ~13h 21m drive
Rochester, NY403 mi · ~11h 39m drive
Buffalo, NY340 mi · ~9h 49m drive
Philadelphia, PA463 mi · ~13h 23m drive
Pittsburgh, PA212 mi · ~6h 7m drive
Harrisburg, PA372 mi · ~10h 45m drive
Newark, NJ517 mi · ~14h 56m drive
Washington, DC370 mi · ~10h 41m drive
Baltimore, MD388 mi · ~11h 13m drive
Atlanta, GA413 mi · ~11h 56m drive
Charlotte, NC351 mi · ~10h 8m drive
Raleigh, NC394 mi · ~11h 23m drive
Miami, FL987 mi · ~28h 31m drive
Orlando, FL785 mi · ~22h 41m drive
Tampa, FL816 mi · ~23h 34m drive
Nashville, TN291 mi · ~8h 24m drive
New Orleans, LA760 mi · ~21h 57m drive
Richmond, VA379 mi · ~10h 57m drive
Chicago, IL247 mi · ~7h 8m drive
Detroit, MI186 mi · ~5h 22m drive
Minneapolis, MN601 mi · ~17h 22m drive
St. Louis, MO347 mi · ~10h 1m drive
Kansas City, MO572 mi · ~16h 31m drive
Indianapolis, IN121 mi · ~3h 30m drive
Columbus, OH50 mi · ~1h 27m drive
Cleveland, OH169 mi · ~4h 53m drive
Milwaukee, WI311 mi · ~8h 59m drive
Dallas, TX863 mi · ~24h 56m drive
Houston, TX946 mi · ~27h 20m drive
Austin, TX1018 mi · ~29h 25m drive
San Antonio, TX1091 mi · ~31h 31m drive
Los Angeles, CA1927 mi · ~55h 40m drive
San Francisco, CA2065 mi · ~59h 39m drive
San Diego, CA1905 mi · ~55h 2m drive
Seattle, WA1976 mi · ~57h 5m drive
Portland, OR1993 mi · ~57h 35m drive
Denver, CO1119 mi · ~32h 20m drive
Phoenix, AZ1616 mi · ~46h 41m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1473 mi · ~42h 33m drive
Honolulu, HI4459 mi · ~128h 49m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

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