Find your flourish at William Woods University with more than 50+ professions-oriented undergraduate programs. At William Woods, we make sure you have the resources to fully explore your program of study. Individualized mentoring and small class sizes ensure you receive the educational preparation you deserve.

Located in a beautiful traditional college setting in small-town central Missouri, William Woods is a place where you can make lifelong friendships while preparing for the next step in your journey. Whether you're interested in athletics, Greek life, theatre, faith, careers and leadership, diversity and social issues — or a little bit of everything — there's a group of like-minded students and a caring community to support you.

Our Center for Human Performance, Cox Art Gallery and studio spaces, model courtroom, MAC and film labs, cybersecurity testing center, and soon-to-open Center for Equine Medicine are just some examples of the top-notch facilities and amenities that help students learn here.

Every student is offered a $5,000 L.E.A.D. award for campus involvement. It's how we build community and ensure a private college education is affordable. The award is renewable for up to four years and is just one component of our extensive scholarship and financial aid offerings.

Founded in 1870, William Woods also includes online undergraduate and graduate degrees, and advanced degree options in education, leadership, and business. There are so many ways to flourish here. Visit William Woods and find your path.

About William Woods University

William Woods University is a learning community of more than 3,500 students and faculty, including some 1,100 traditional undergraduates representing more than 35 US states and 24 countries on our 225-acre campus in Fulton, Missouri. We offer unique undergraduate programs, including an internationally recognized equestrian studies program, a four-year American Sign Language interpreting program, and a criminal justice degree with homeland security emphasis. William Woods University believes in a service-learning model, where students learn best through hands-on experience, and through the giving of their hearts, minds and talents.

Mission Statement

Our educational mission began more than 140 years ago in the aftermath of the Civil War, in the year 1870. The Christian Church of Missouri, as a work of compassion, founded a school for girls who had been orphaned by the conflict. The Female Orphan School of the Christian Church of Missouri, as it was called, eventually moved to Fulton, our present home, and grew to include other young women in addition to war orphans.