Southern California vs West Virginia - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Southern California admits 9.8% of applications, West Virginia admits 89%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 13.2% (Southern California) against 1.7% (West Virginia).
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Southern California starts at $89,087 against $47,480 and ends at $17,918 against $30,750 (West Virginia).
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Southern California: $92K against $56K.
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
Southern California is the more selective of the two (9.81% vs 89% acceptance). Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#62 vs #501-600). Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $56K). West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 vs $68,687 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 Southern California for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose West Virginia for: lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Southern California is more selective (9.81% vs 89% acceptance); Southern California has a higher median SAT (1495 vs 1110).
Southern California graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($92K vs $56K); Southern California has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.8% vs 64.7%).
West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 vs $68,687); Southern California offers a larger average aid package ($71,169 vs $16,730).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Southern California | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #62 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | #72 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 9.81% | 89% |
| Yield rate | 43.3% | 26.5% |
| Median SAT | 1495 | 1110 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.80 | 3.70 |
| Number of applications | 82,027 | 20,150 |
| International students | 13.2% | 1.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $92K | $56K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $59K | $36K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $141K | $84K |
| Graduation rate | 91.8% | 64.7% |
| Retention rate | 95.6% | 83.4% |
| Median debt | $18,000 | $22,500 |
| Tuition · year | $68,687 | $28,608 |
| Avg. aid package | $71,169 | $16,730 |
| % of need met | 99.3% | 63% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $27,678 | $36,010 |
| Application fee | $85 | $65 |
| Enrollment | 46,566 | 23,643 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Southern California or West Virginia?
It's harder to get into Southern California. Southern California accepts 9.81% of applicants, while West Virginia accepts 89%.
Do Southern California or West Virginia graduates earn more?
Southern California graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $92K vs $56K.
How much is tuition at Southern California vs West Virginia?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,687 per year at Southern California and $28,608 per year at West Virginia.
What SAT score do you need for Southern California or West Virginia?
The median admitted SAT score is 1495 at Southern California and 1110 at West Virginia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Southern California or West Virginia?
Southern California ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #62 for Southern California vs #501-600 for West Virginia.
Which university offers more financial aid - Southern California or West Virginia?
The average aid package is $71,169 at Southern California and $16,730 at West Virginia.
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