Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Waldorf University is a for-profit regional university located in Forest City, Iowa. Waldorf University is moderately inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Waldorf University is in the bottom 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $43,860 10 years after enrolling, 27th in Iowa, and in the bottom 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Waldorf University bachelor students earn 5% more than the national average.
Waldorf University’s median net annual cost of $20,541 and average years to graduate of 4 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Waldorf University sorted by number of graduates - Business and Commerce, Homeland Security, HR Management, Fire Protection, Quality Control & Safety Technician, Health Administrative Services - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$20,541
Average years to graduate
4
Criminal Justice
Rank: #41
Economic score: 2.61
Education
Rank: #113
Economic score: 4.58
Psychology
Rank: #316
Economic score: 7.16
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #468
Economic score: 21.6
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 1 graduate programs at Waldorf University - Business Administration - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4 years. 55% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Waldorf University is 10% lower than the state average, and 3% below the average for all regional universities in the country.
At Waldorf University, Pell Grant recipients represent 31% of the measured graduating class, 4% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Waldorf University graduates within 4 years.
Waldorf University is in the bottom 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Waldorf University’s economic mobility score of 12.58 is calculated by adjusting the 4.43 economic score of lower-income students by the 31% pell grant recipients within the student body. Waldorf University’s EMS of 12.58 ranks in the bottom 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Waldorf University pays $20,541 a year, $15,004 less than the $35,545 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $20,541
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Waldorf University, 95% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $20,541 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 83% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $5,857. This is 29% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,263
Pell grants
$3,810
State grants
$2,475
Institutional grants
$11,864
Waldorf University offers 15 online bachelor programs, 10 of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level Waldorf University offers 3 programs, all of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
18
Hybrid programs
5
Percentage of programs online
64%
Waldorf University's moderately inclusive admissions are indicated by their 72% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 1,097 applicants, of which 793 were admitted and 192 enrolled. Waldorf University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
68%
83%
Female
44%
59%
First time
21%
59%
In-state
20%
68%
1st generation
46%
35%
White
30%
52%
Black
6%
14%
Hispanic
2%
15%
Asian
1%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
1%
0.3%
Other
60%
12%