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William Woods University

WWU/William Woods/The Woods

Fulton, Missouri 65251-2388

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Tight-knitCollege townGreek life

Known for business — close-knit campus

William Woods University is a private institution in Fulton with particular strength in business and biology.

A small campus of 1.1K undergraduates with a 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.

57% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $42,401 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $22,270.

Established
1870
Motto
Amor Vincit Omnia
Mascot
Screech the Owl
Type
Private university
Conference
National Association of

Campus Visits

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

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74%Acceptance
SAT Avg
1,061Students
11:1Student:Faculty
57%Grad Rate
$42,401Earnings 10yr
$22,270Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate74.5%

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

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$28,860
Room & Board$12,402
Books & Supplies$1,300
Total Cost of Attendance$44,907
Average Net Price$22,270
Median Debt at Graduation$21,983
Monthly Payment (10yr)$233

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$19,042
$30–48K$19,587
$48–75K$21,217
$75–110K$25,359
$110K+$25,809

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

50.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

4.6%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$14,425

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

6

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

1

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

0

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

2

Drug Arrests

2

Liquor Arrests

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

Programs (57)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

74%

Mixed

Student Body

Undergrads
1,061
Gender Split
64% / 36%
Women / Men
First Generation
30%
Pell Grant Recipients
30%

Race & Ethnicity

White 59%
Black 12%
Hispanic 8%
Asian 1%
Two+ 4%
Int'l 3%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate57.0%
Freshman Retention73.7%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$39,265
10 Years$42,401

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

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

  • History First known as the Female Orphan School, the institution was founded in 1870 in Camden Point, Missouri, in response to the needs of girls who were orphaned during the American Civil War.
  • During the late nineteenth century, the institution moved to Fulton and expanded its elementary and secondary programs to accommodate young women who aspired to become teachers.
  • Known briefly at the beginning of the twentieth century as Daughters College, it changed its name to William Woods College in 1900 to honor a major benefactor (William S.
  • In 1962, anticipating dramatic changes in the role of American women in the labor force, William Woods became a four-year college.
  • In 1992, William Woods College changed its name to William Woods University, and began offering a wide variety of graduate-level degree programs, geared toward the working adult.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

88Low

Estimated from MO state average

Climate (School Year)

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

Nearest Cities

St. Louispop. 290K
96 mi(166 min)
Kansas Citypop. 500K
142 mi(246 min)
Chicagopop. 2.7M
308 mi(534 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

STL St Louis85 mi
MCI Kansas City151 mi
MEM Memphis285 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1119 mi · ~32h 20m drive
New York, NY960 mi · ~27h 44m drive
Hartford, CT1033 mi · ~29h 51m drive
Providence, RI1098 mi · ~31h 43m drive
Albany, NY985 mi · ~28h 27m drive
Syracuse, NY872 mi · ~25h 11m drive
Rochester, NY803 mi · ~23h 12m drive
Buffalo, NY736 mi · ~21h 16m drive
Philadelphia, PA898 mi · ~25h 57m drive
Pittsburgh, PA645 mi · ~18h 38m drive
Harrisburg, PA807 mi · ~23h 19m drive
Newark, NJ951 mi · ~27h 28m drive
Washington, DC801 mi · ~23h 8m drive
Baltimore, MD822 mi · ~23h 45m drive
Atlanta, GA549 mi · ~15h 52m drive
Charlotte, NC661 mi · ~19h 6m drive
Raleigh, NC761 mi · ~21h 59m drive
Miami, FL1134 mi · ~32h 46m drive
Orlando, FL936 mi · ~27h 2m drive
Tampa, FL930 mi · ~26h 52m drive
Nashville, TN339 mi · ~9h 48m drive
New Orleans, LA625 mi · ~18h 3m drive
Richmond, VA793 mi · ~22h 55m drive
Chicago, IL308 mi · ~8h 54m drive
Detroit, MI525 mi · ~15h 10m drive
Minneapolis, MN428 mi · ~12h 22m drive
St. Louis, MO96 mi · ~2h 46m drive
Kansas City, MO142 mi · ~4h 6m drive
Indianapolis, IN316 mi · ~9h 8m drive
Columbus, OH484 mi · ~13h 59m drive
Cleveland, OH571 mi · ~16h 30m drive
Milwaukee, WI358 mi · ~10h 21m drive
Dallas, TX500 mi · ~14h 27m drive
Houston, TX658 mi · ~19h 1m drive
Austin, TX679 mi · ~19h 37m drive
San Antonio, TX751 mi · ~21h 42m drive
Los Angeles, CA1493 mi · ~43h 8m drive
San Francisco, CA1646 mi · ~47h 33m drive
San Diego, CA1470 mi · ~42h 28m drive
Seattle, WA1631 mi · ~47h 7m drive
Portland, OR1628 mi · ~47h 2m drive
Denver, CO699 mi · ~20h 12m drive
Phoenix, AZ1180 mi · ~34h 5m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1064 mi · ~30h 44m drive
Honolulu, HI4034 mi · ~116h 32m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

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