Yale vs West Virginia - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Yale admits 4.7% of applications, West Virginia admits 89%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Yale: 10.6% of students against 1.7% (West Virginia).
Average aid for an international student is $84,185 (Yale) and $21,636 (West Virginia).
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Yale starts at $98,900 against $47,480 and ends at $24,547 against $30,750 (West Virginia).
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
Yale is the more selective of the two (4.7% vs 89% acceptance). Yale ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#11 vs #501-600). Yale graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($101K vs $56K). West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 vs $72,500 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 Yale 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
Yale is more selective (4.7% vs 89% acceptance); Yale has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1110).
Yale graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($101K vs $56K); Yale has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.7% vs 64.7%).
West Virginia has lower sticker-price tuition ($28,608 vs $72,500); Yale offers a larger average aid package ($74,353 vs $16,730).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Yale | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #11 | #501-600 |
| Rank · THE | #10 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 4.7% | 89% |
| Yield rate | 68.4% | 26.5% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1110 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.70 |
| Number of applications | 50,264 | 20,150 |
| International students | 10.6% | 1.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $101K | $56K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $66K | $36K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $194K | $84K |
| Graduation rate | 95.7% | 64.7% |
| Retention rate | 99.4% | 83.4% |
| Median debt | $12,975 | $22,500 |
| Tuition · year | $72,500 | $28,608 |
| Avg. aid package | $74,353 | $16,730 |
| % of need met | 100% | 63% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $22,185 | $36,010 |
| Application fee | $80 | $65 |
| Enrollment | 15,657 | 23,643 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Yale or West Virginia?
It's harder to get into Yale. Yale accepts 4.7% of applicants, while West Virginia accepts 89%.
Do Yale or West Virginia graduates earn more?
Yale graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $101K vs $56K.
How much is tuition at Yale vs West Virginia?
Sticker-price tuition is $72,500 per year at Yale and $28,608 per year at West Virginia.
What SAT score do you need for Yale or West Virginia?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Yale and 1110 at West Virginia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Yale or West Virginia?
Yale ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #11 for Yale vs #501-600 for West Virginia.
Which university offers more financial aid - Yale or West Virginia?
The average aid package is $74,353 at Yale and $16,730 at West Virginia.
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