Central Florida vs West Virginia - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Central Florida: 44.7% against 89% (West Virginia).
Real money goes to international students at West Virginia ($21,636 on average), while Central Florida stops at $928.
150 points separate the SAT profiles: 1260 (Central Florida) against 1110.
More than twice the application volume goes to Central Florida (55,135 against 20,150), which changes how any single file is read.
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Central Florida is the more selective of the two (44.71% vs 89% acceptance). Central Florida ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#401-500 vs #501-600). Central Florida graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($58K vs $56K). Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $28,608 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Central Florida for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose West Virginia for: a larger aid package.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Central Florida is more selective (44.71% vs 89% acceptance); Central Florida has a higher median SAT (1260 vs 1110).
Central Florida graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($58K vs $56K); Central Florida has a higher 6-year graduation rate (78% vs 64.7%).
Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $28,608); West Virginia offers a larger average aid package ($16,730 vs $11,814).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Central Florida | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #401-500 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 44.71% | 89% |
| Yield rate | 33.5% | 26.5% |
| Median SAT | 1260 | 1110 |
| Avg. GPA | 4.16 | 3.70 |
| Number of applications | 55,135 | 20,150 |
| International students | 3.3% | 1.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $58K | $56K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $39K | $36K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $86K | $84K |
| Graduation rate | 78% | 64.7% |
| Retention rate | 92.3% | 83.4% |
| Median debt | $18,190 | $22,500 |
| Tuition · year | $24,076 | $28,608 |
| Avg. aid package | $11,814 | $16,730 |
| % of need met | 65% | 63% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $20,529 | $36,010 |
| Application fee | $30 | $65 |
| Enrollment | 69,338 | 23,643 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Central Florida or West Virginia?
It's harder to get into Central Florida. Central Florida accepts 44.71% of applicants, while West Virginia accepts 89%.
Do Central Florida or West Virginia graduates earn more?
Central Florida graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $58K vs $56K.
How much is tuition at Central Florida vs West Virginia?
Sticker-price tuition is $24,076 per year at Central Florida and $28,608 per year at West Virginia.
What SAT score do you need for Central Florida or West Virginia?
The median admitted SAT score is 1260 at Central Florida and 1110 at West Virginia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Central Florida or West Virginia?
Central Florida ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #401-500 for Central Florida vs #501-600 for West Virginia.
Which university offers more financial aid - Central Florida or West Virginia?
The average aid package is $11,814 at Central Florida and $16,730 at West Virginia.
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