William Peace University

Peace offers a career-oriented liberal arts education with over 30 options for majors and minors, ranging from Elementary Education and Forensic Science to Pre-Law and Nursing. The academic philosophy explicitly connects classroom learning with practical experience, promoting research, mentorship, and leadership opportunities to strengthen resumes and graduate school applications. The most popular majors reveal a practical bent: for the 2024 graduating class, Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services was the top field, comprising 24% of graduates. Visual and Performing Arts followed at 15%, with Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology also among the most common. Other popular majors include Psychology, Biology/Biological Sciences, and Registered Nursing. The university confers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees, with a recent graduating class of 179 students receiving 119 B.A., 31 B.S., and 29 B.S.N. degrees.

Student life at William Peace is defined by its small, residential campus community situated in downtown Raleigh. Just over half (53%) of students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing, while 47% live off-campus. The Office of Student Life aims to provide transformative social and educational experiences while cultivating a diverse and inclusive community. The downtown Raleigh location is a major feature of the student experience, offering easy access to additional entertainment, cultural activities, internships, and the professional energy of a state capital. Campus life includes opportunities for connection through clubs, organizations, and athletics, though the intimate size of the university fosters a close-knit environment where students can readily find their passion and build a network.

William Peace University emphasizes immediate post-graduation outcomes, reporting that an average of 95% of its graduates over the last three years are employed or enrolled in graduate school within one year of graduation. The first-year retention rate is 74%, indicating that a majority of students who start at Peace return for their sophomore year. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. For alumni, early-career salaries start around $38,000, with mid-career salaries climbing to approximately $70,000. The university's career-focused approach is designed to facilitate this transition, leveraging its Raleigh location for internships and professional networking to help graduates launch their careers or further studies swiftly.

William Peace University is a private institution that makes a concerted effort to provide financial assistance, with nearly 100% of its students receiving some form of scholarship, grant, or financial aid. The university states it awards aid automatically when a student applies and fills out the FAFSA. One source indicates 100% of full-time beginning undergraduates receive grant or scholarship aid, with the average aid package reported as $33,143. The net price—the average cost after aid and scholarships—is a key figure for families. The university provides a Net Price Calculator for prospective students to estimate their individual cost of attendance and potential aid. The financial aid office also provides information and access to federal loan programs, such as the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, and offers resources for students who may seek private student loans to cover remaining costs. The provided sources do not indicate the university has a "no-loan" policy or a commitment to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need solely with grants.

William Peace University carves out a distinct niche by combining three elements: an exceptionally open admissions gateway, a deliberately practical and career-infused academic curriculum, and a prime location in a thriving urban center. It is not a university for hyper-selective prestige seekers; instead, it serves as an accessible on-ramp to a bachelor's degree for students who benefit from a high-touch, supportive environment. The stand-out feature is its integration with downtown Raleigh—the campus isn't just near the city, it is in it. This provides students with immediate access to internships, state government offices, cultural institutions, and professional networks that are woven into the educational experience. The focus on outcomes—boasting that 95% of graduates are employed or in grad school within a year—is the ultimate expression of its pragmatic mission. It’s a small university with a clear purpose: to take students from application to career launch with a directness and sense of place that larger, more traditional liberal arts colleges often lack.