West Virginia vs Wyoming - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Real money goes to international students at West Virginia ($21,636 on average), while Wyoming stops at $10,769.
30 points separate the SAT profiles: 1140 (Wyoming) against 1110.
These admissions operate at different scales: West Virginia reads 20,150 applications a year, its rival 6,217.
Neither is international in practice: the share of foreign students does not exceed 1.8%.
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
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
West Virginia is the more selective of the two (89% vs 96.9% acceptance). West Virginia ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#501-600 vs #701-800). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($56K vs $57K). Wyoming has lower sticker-price tuition ($25,015 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 West Virginia for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Wyoming for: higher graduate earnings, lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
West Virginia is more selective (89% vs 96.9% acceptance); Wyoming has a higher median SAT (1140 vs 1110).
Wyoming graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($57K vs $56K); West Virginia has a higher 6-year graduation rate (64.7% vs 58.8%).
Wyoming has lower sticker-price tuition ($25,015 vs $28,608); West Virginia offers a larger average aid package ($16,730 vs $12,129).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | West Virginia | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #501-600 | #701-800 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 89% | 96.9% |
| Yield rate | 26.5% | 23.8% |
| Median SAT | 1110 | 1140 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.70 | 3.55 |
| Number of applications | 20,150 | 6,217 |
| International students | 1.7% | 1.8% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $56K | $57K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $36K | $37K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $84K | $81K |
| Graduation rate | 64.7% | 58.8% |
| Retention rate | 83.4% | 79% |
| Median debt | $22,500 | $18,000 |
| Tuition · year | $28,608 | $25,015 |
| Avg. aid package | $16,730 | $12,129 |
| % of need met | 63% | 57.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $36,010 | $24,921 |
| Application fee | $65 | $40 |
| Enrollment | 23,643 | 10,813 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into West Virginia or Wyoming?
It's harder to get into West Virginia. West Virginia accepts 89% of applicants, while Wyoming accepts 96.9%.
Do West Virginia or Wyoming graduates earn more?
Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $56K at West Virginia and $57K at Wyoming.
How much is tuition at West Virginia vs Wyoming?
Sticker-price tuition is $28,608 per year at West Virginia and $25,015 per year at Wyoming.
What SAT score do you need for West Virginia or Wyoming?
The median admitted SAT score is 1110 at West Virginia and 1140 at Wyoming; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - West Virginia or Wyoming?
West Virginia ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #501-600 for West Virginia vs #701-800 for Wyoming.
Which university offers more financial aid - West Virginia or Wyoming?
The average aid package is $16,730 at West Virginia and $12,129 at Wyoming.
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