Contact
Jennifer Suarez
Director of Integrated Marketing
jssuarez[at]peace.edu
919-508-2208 (o)
About Us
Founded in 1857, William Peace University is a nationally ranked institution in Raleigh, NC – one of U.S News’ Best Places to Live – serving almost 1000 students in 30+ undergraduate and 10 professional programs in criminal justice, education, business administration, and more.
Nestled in the heart of Raleigh’s downtown area, our university’s culture is as vibrant as the city that surrounds it; and our students benefit from all the connection and collaboration that our central location has to offer. With supportive professors, dedicated faculty advisors, and a friendly and active student body, William Peace University students enjoy the tight-knit community of a small school, and the opportunity of a growing, flourishing city.
We offer an educational approach that’s hands-on, adaptive, and nimble – with career preparation built in from start to finish. Our immersive curriculum and innovative teaching methods ensure our students graduate career-ready and prepared to thrive in the organizations of today and tomorrow.
Read more of our history.
Key Facts
- Used to be called Peace College with a female-only enrollment.
- Switched to co-ed in 2012 and renamed William Peace University.
- A Pacer is a type of horse used in harness racing.
- 12:1 Student-Faculty Ratio
- Nearly 100% of students receive scholarships or financial aid.
- 96% Job or Graduate School Placement
- 30+ Majors
- 100% of traditional students graduate with an internship
- 18 NCAA DIII athletics teams
Demographics (2019-2020)
54% female, 46% male
53% caucasian/white
24% black
2% unknown
12% Hispanic/Latino
5% two races or more
2% Asian/Asian America
Notable Graduates
Gail Godwin ’57: Dr. Gail K. Godwin ’57 is an American novelist and short story writer. She has written 14 novels, two short story collections, three non-fiction books, and ten libretti. Her primary literary accomplishments are her novels, which have included five best-sellers and three finalists for the National Book Award. Most of her books are realistic fiction novels that follow a character’s psychological and intellectual development, often based on themes taken from Godwin’s own life. Her novel Old Lovegood Girls is said to be based on her time at what was then called Peace College.
Fortune Feimster ’02: Fortune is a stand-up comedian, writer, and actor. She first made a name for herself on Chelsea Lately and was a series regular on The Mindy Project for Hulu, Champions for NBC, and has made many television and film guest appearances, including Tales of the City, Dear White People, Claws, Office Christmas Party, Chick Fight, and a recurring role on CBS’s Life In Pieces. She appears in the recently released films: Lionsgate’s Barb and Star go to Vista Del Mar and Netflix’ Yes Day alongside Jennifer Garner and Edgar Ramirez. Fortune has performed stand-up on Conan and Late Night with Seth Meyers and her specials for Comedy Central and Netflix; her one-hour stand-up special SWEET AND SALTY premiered on Netflix last year. She was the recipient of the 2021 Alumni Award.
Harriett Mills ’03: Harriet Mills is the Founder and CEO of Wine & Design. She has been featured in many noteworthy publications such as Triangle Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, ABC’s Shark Tank, the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Yahoo Finance for her drive and dedication to her business.