William Penn University (WPU) Academics and Admissions

Academics

The William Penn University was established in 1873 at Oskaloosa, Iowa and initially offered six programs of study in biblical sciences, languages, history, natural science, math and commerce. The main college building was badly burnt during a chemical explosion in 1916, after which the college was moved to its present 40 acre location. The college name was officially changed from William Penn College to William Penn University in the year 2000 and the campus was expanded to include more academic facilities and a recreational facility.

The Working Adults program was started in 2005. Each year more than 900 students from neighboring cities benefit from the program by adding necessary qualifications to their professional careers. Educational programs at William Penn University focus on a liberal arts education comprising of courses in humanities, science, and social sciences. The faculty encourages students in developing their written and verbal communication skills and helps them with skills that are important for a well rounded professional career.

With a 16:1 student to teacher ratio, students get individual attention from their teachers, which helps them excel in their studies. There are seven main areas of study to choose from:

Applied Technology

Business Administration and Leadership

Education

Health and Life Sciences

Humanities

Nursing

Social and Behavioral Sciences

William Penn University College for Working Adults offers degree programs in business and leadership. Students can also enroll in distance learning ESL programs. Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Associate of Arts in Leadership degrees are available through the distance learning program.

The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of North Central Association of Schools and Colleges.

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Information Summary

Ranks 33rd in Iowa and 1810th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	67.1
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$38,200
Admission Success rate	N/A
SAT 75%ile scores	1050
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	23 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	53% / N/A
Enrollment Total (all students)	1,279

Admissions

Students can apply to William Penn University by submitting an online application form. Admissions open twice a year, for the fall and spring sessions. Here are the admission requirements:

Undergraduate Admissions

To apply at William Penn University, prospective students must provide official high school transcripts from an accredited school and ACT or SAT scores. In addition to this, a minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for applying. In the absence of high school transcripts, GED scores can be submitted.

Students are encouraged to visit the university campus before applying. The application fee is waived off for prospective students who visit the campus.

Transfer Students

Transfer students must provide transcripts from all educational institutes attended. High school transcripts are not required for students who have completed one year of college.

International Students

International students must submit TOEFL scores at the time of applying and take another language proficiency test after arriving on campus. A financial support document must be attached with other transcripts.

Graduate Admissions

William Penn University offers a master program in business leadership. Students applying to this program should have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, personal essay, employer recommendations, and a minimum work experience of two years.

International students applying to the business leadership program are required to submit TOEFL scores.

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Financial Aid

Federal financial aid is available in the form of Pell grants, academic competitiveness grants, SMART grants, Perkins Loans, Direct Loans, and work study programs. To be eligible for federal financial aid, students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at the FAFSA website.

Institutional scholarships are available to native and non-native students; however, these are very competitive and are based entirely on academic performance and financial need. Prospective students should have a minimum GPA of 3.50 on a 4.0 scale and very high SAT or ACT scores.

The Presidential Scholarship is awarded to students with a minimum GPA of 3.80 and above. It covers the entire tuition fee as does the Dean’s Academic Scholarship, Academic Leadership Scholarship and the Academic Achievement Scholarship.

Athletic scholarships and music scholarships are also available for gifted students. Students are also encouraged to apply for state scholarships and others offered by local clubs and organizations.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 2378th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Iowa.

Students

On campus residency is mandatory for freshmen students unless they are older than 21 years or live with parents around a 30 mile radius. The university campus is a smoke-free area and consequently, smoking is not allowed in any of the residence halls either. There are a total of four residence halls – all of these are equipped with furniture and drawer space. Residence halls include:

Twin Townhouses

Lewis Hall

Watson Hall

Eltse Hall

Married students have access to apartments, which are a short walk from the campus. These apartments are equipped with a refrigerator but all other furniture must be arranged by students.

Dining facilities are available at Atkins Memorial Union and Penn Athletic Center. Meal plans can be purchased to eat at campus cafes.

Student life at William Penn is full of creative options that allow students to explore their interests. You can become a part of Greek fraternities and sororities such as Alpha Chi, Alpha Lambda Delta, Nu Psi Tau, Delta Beta Phi, Pi Gamma Xi, and several others.

Other organizations include Chronicle Newspaper, Math Club, Biology Club, Campus Ministries, and Dance Club. The college places a lot of importance on faith education and religious life programming through the campus ministries. The Campus Ministries club also organizes several annual events like Christian concerts, Christmas party, Superbowl events, and weekend retreats.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

Athletic teams at William Penn University are called Statesmen and play in the official colors of gold and blue. The Statesmen are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and play in the Midwest Collegiate Conference.

Men’s sports at the university include:

Baseball

Basketball

Bowling

Cross country

Track and field

Football

Wrestling

Golf

Women’s sports also include competitive dance and cheerleading, softball, and bowling. Athletic facilities at available at the Penn Athletic Center – a 50,000 square feet facility with two basketball courts, a running and walking track, softball and football fields, a wrestling arena, and a state of the art gym.

Bibliography

William Penn University. William Penn University. Web. June 13, 2011.
Statesmen Athletics. Statesmen Athletics. Web. June 13, 2011.

William Penn University