Central vs. WWU

Should I go to University of Central Missouri or William Woods University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Central or WWU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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University of Central Missouri vs. William Woods University comparison
University of Central Missouri William Woods University College 3 College 4
University of Central Missouri
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Overview

 Central WWU
Location Warrensburg, MO Fulton, MO
Setting Rural Fringe Distant Town
Enrollment 12,788 1,729
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #710
Religious Affiliation - Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ucmo.edu williamwoods.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Central WWU
Tuition (In State) $8,325 $27,800
Tuition (Out of State) $16,650 $27,800
Room & Board $10,206 $12,402
Avg Net Price $15,728 $22,925
Avg Grant Aid $6,193 $22,166
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 99%

Admission

 Central WWU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,966 1,133
Admitted 3,407 844
Acceptance Rate 68.6% 74.5%
Enrolled % 31.1% 27.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 19/25
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Dec 1, 2025

Academics

 Central WWU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Business (29%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Agriculture (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Legal Professions (7%)

Outcomes

 Central WWU
Graduation Rate 50% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,500 $38,600
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,441 $21,437
Median Loan Payment $232 $221

Diversity

 Central WWU
% Men 21% 14%
% Women 22% 23%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 71%
% Black 11% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 20%

Students

 Central WWU
% In-State 86% 69%
% Out-of-State 12% 24%

Campus

 Central WWU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Central Missouri is larger than than WWU based on total student enrollment (12,788 students vs. 1,729 students)

Central vs. WWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central or WWU?

  • William Woods University is 233.9% more expensive to attend than Central for in-state tuition ($27,800.00 vs. $8,325.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 67% higher at WWU than University of Central Missouri ($27,800.00 vs. $16,650.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Central Missouri than WWU ($15,728 vs. $22,925)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Missouri are 21.5% lower than costs at William Woods University ($10,206 vs. $12,402)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at William Woods University than University of Central Missouri (99% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by William Woods University students is 257.9% larger than aid received University of Central Missouri ($22,166 vs. $6,193)

Central vs. WWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central or WWU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WWU or Central .

  • The average SAT score at William Woods University (1035) is 25 points higher than at Central (1010)
  • Incoming WWU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Central (22)
  • Accepted freshman Central students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at WWU (3.4)
  • WWU has a higher acceptance rate (74.5%) than Central (68.6%)

Central vs. WWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central or WWU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WWU and Central.

  • The graduation rate at Central is the same as at William Woods University (50% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from University of Central Missouri earn on average $2,900 more per year than WWU graduates after ten years. ($41,500 vs. $38,600)
  • William Woods University students graduate with a $1,004 lower median federal student loan debt than Central graduates. ($21,437 vs. $22,441)
  • WWU graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Central graduates. ($221 vs. $232)
  • More WWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/