William Penn University vs. McPherson College

Should I go to William Penn University or McPherson College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if William Penn University or McPherson College 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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William Penn University vs. McPherson College comparison
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Overview

William Penn University McPherson College
Location Oskaloosa, IA McPherson, KS
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 1,536 788
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #896
Religious Affiliation Friends Church of Brethren - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wmpenn.edu mcpherson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

William Penn University McPherson College
Tuition (In State) $28,750 $34,072
Tuition (Out of State) $28,750 $34,072
Room & Board $7,712 $10,322
Avg Net Price $22,361 $25,490
Avg Grant Aid $18,434 $22,929
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

William Penn University McPherson College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,112 1,209
Admitted 634 1,013
Acceptance Rate 57% 83.8%
Enrolled % 46.7% 23.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.0 3.33
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/22 17/24
SAT Range 830/1100 936/1126
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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

William Penn University McPherson College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (45%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Engineering Technology (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Education (8%)

Outcomes

William Penn University McPherson College
Graduation Rate 30% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,600 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 49% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $268

Diversity

William Penn University McPherson College
% Men 3% 0%
% Women 2% 0%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 61% 70%
% Black 18% 10%
% Hispanic 8% 12%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 5% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

William Penn University McPherson College
% In-State 36% 27%
% Out-of-State 59% 69%

Campus

William Penn University McPherson College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • William Penn University is larger than than McPherson College based on total student enrollment (1,536 students vs. 788 students)

William Penn University vs. McPherson College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, William Penn University or McPherson College?

  • McPherson College is 18.5% more expensive to attend than William Penn University for in-state tuition ($34,072.00 vs. $28,750.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 18.5% higher at McPherson College than William Penn University ($34,072.00 vs. $28,750.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at William Penn University than McPherson College ($22,361 vs. $25,490)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Penn University are 33.8% lower than costs at McPherson College ($7,712 vs. $10,322)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at William Penn University as McPherson College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by McPherson College students is 24.4% larger than aid received William Penn University ($22,929 vs. $18,434)

William Penn University vs. McPherson College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, William Penn University or McPherson College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between McPherson College or William Penn University .

  • Accepted freshman McPherson College students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at William Penn University (3.0)
  • McPherson College has a higher acceptance rate (83.8%) than William Penn University (57%)

William Penn University vs. McPherson College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, William Penn University or McPherson College? 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 McPherson College and William Penn University.

  • The graduation rate at McPherson College is higher than William Penn University (46% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from William Penn University earn on average $400 more per year than McPherson College graduates after ten years. ($44,600 vs. $44,200)
  • William Penn University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than McPherson College graduates. ($24,000 vs. $26,000)
  • William Penn University graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than McPherson College graduates. ($248 vs. $268)
  • More McPherson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Penn University students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 49%)

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