Match #1
University of Dubuque
Dubuque, IA
Profile closeness74/100
Admit rate89%
- 1,440 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Small
- Graduation rate 45%, close to 38%
- Enrollment 1,440 students, close to 1,301
The colleges most similar to William Penn University are University of Dubuque, Coe College, and Mount Mercy University. William Penn University admits 52% of applicants and has an average net price of $23,749 a year; 6 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 10 admit a larger share of applicants, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with William Penn University. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to William Penn University
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA
Profile closeness71/100
Admit rate64%
- 1,164 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Midsize
- Enrollment 1,164 students, close to 1,301
- Same control type (private nonprofit)
Match #3
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, IA
Profile closeness71/100
Admit rate83%
- 1,107 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Midsize
- Enrollment 1,107 students, close to 1,301
- Average net price $23,935, close to $23,749
Match #4
Luther College
Decorah, IA
Profile closeness71/100
Admit rate72%
- 1,379 students
- Private nonprofit
- Town: Remote
- Enrollment 1,379 students, close to 1,301
- Average net price $23,945, close to $23,749
Match #5
Cornell College-Iowa
Mount Vernon, IA
Profile closeness69/100
Admit rate80%
- 1,086 students
- Private nonprofit
- Town: Fringe
- Enrollment 1,086 students, close to 1,301
- Average net price $25,297, close to $23,749
Match #6
Grand View University
Des Moines, IA
Profile closeness69/100
Admit rate99%
- 1,486 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Midsize
- Enrollment 1,486 students, close to 1,301
- Average net price $21,705, close to $23,749
Match #7
Central College-Iowa
Pella, IA
Profile closeness69/100
Admit rate86%
- 1,070 students
- Private nonprofit
- Town: Distant
- Enrollment 1,070 students, close to 1,301
- Average net price $22,894, close to $23,749
Match #8
Graceland University-Lamoni
Lamoni, IA
Profile closeness67/100
Admit rate81%
- 798 students
- Private nonprofit
- Rural: Remote
- Graduation rate 44%, close to 38%
- Same control type (private nonprofit)
Match #9
Simpson College-Iowa
Indianola, IA
Profile closeness67/100
Admit rate86%
- 1,227 students
- Private nonprofit
- Town: Fringe
- Enrollment 1,227 students, close to 1,301
- Same Carnegie classification
Match #10
Wartburg College
Waverly, IA
Profile closeness66/100
Admit rate76%
- 1,452 students
- Private nonprofit
- Town: Distant
- Enrollment 1,452 students, close to 1,301
- Average net price $23,374, close to $23,749
Questions about William Penn University alternatives
What colleges are similar to William Penn University?
The closest matches to William Penn University are University of Dubuque, Coe College, Mount Mercy University, Luther College, and Cornell College-Iowa. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Is William Penn University hard to get into?
William Penn University admitted 52% of its 1,387 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is moderately selective. 10 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.
Which William Penn University alternatives cost less?
6 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than William Penn University ($23,749 a year), including Coe College ($18,647), Graceland University-Lamoni ($19,899), and Simpson College-Iowa ($20,460). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
