West Virginia vs Rochester - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Rochester admits 40.1%, West Virginia admits 89%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Rochester: 22.1% of students against 1.7% (West Virginia).
Real money goes to international students at Rochester ($41,269 on average), while West Virginia stops at $21,636.
The cheaper tuition belongs to West Virginia: $28,608 against $70,284, or $41,676 less a year.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
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
Rochester is the more selective of the two (40.08% vs 89% acceptance). Rochester ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #151-200). Rochester graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($79K vs $56K). West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 vs $70,284 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 West Virginia for: lower tuition.
Choose Rochester for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Rochester is more selective (40.08% vs 89% acceptance); Rochester has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1110).
Rochester graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($79K vs $56K); Rochester has a higher 6-year graduation rate (85.4% vs 64.7%).
West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 vs $70,284); Rochester offers a larger average aid package ($60,879 vs $16,730).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | West Virginia | Rochester |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #151-200 |
| Rank · THE | - | #127 |
| Acceptance rate | 89% | 40.08% |
| Yield rate | 26.5% | 15.4% |
| Median SAT | 1110 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.70 | 3.72 |
| Number of applications | 20,150 | 21,384 |
| International students | 1.7% | 22.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $56K | $79K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $36K | $50K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $84K | $117K |
| Graduation rate | 64.7% | 85.4% |
| Retention rate | 83.4% | 90.7% |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $21,000 |
| Tuition · year | $28,608 | $70,284 |
| Avg. aid package | $16,730 | $60,879 |
| % of need met | 63% | 96.1% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $36,010 | $32,304 |
| Application fee | $65 | $50 |
| Enrollment | 23,643 | 11,946 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into West Virginia or Rochester?
It's harder to get into Rochester. West Virginia accepts 89% of applicants, while Rochester accepts 40.08%.
Do West Virginia or Rochester graduates earn more?
Rochester graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $79K vs $56K.
How much is tuition at West Virginia vs Rochester?
Sticker-price tuition is $28,608 per year at West Virginia and $70,284 per year at Rochester.
What SAT score do you need for West Virginia or Rochester?
The median admitted SAT score is 1110 at West Virginia and 1470 at Rochester; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - West Virginia or Rochester?
Rochester ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for West Virginia vs #151-200 for Rochester.
Which university offers more financial aid - West Virginia or Rochester?
The average aid package is $16,730 at West Virginia and $60,879 at Rochester.
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