West Virginia University vs University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Side-by-side comparison across admissions, costs, outcomes, campus life, and more. Data from US Department of Education.

πŸ’°
Best Value
West Virginia University
Lower Net Price
πŸ’Ό
High Earners
West Virginia University
Higher 10yr Salary
πŸ†
Most Selective
West Virginia University
Harder to get in
πŸŽ“
Graduation
West Virginia University
Higher success
Admissions Difficulty
Acceptance Rate
86.3%
88.4%
Avg SAT Score
1,129
1,090
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1010 – 1240
Not reported
Avg ACT Score
24
22
ACT Range (25th–75th)
20 – 26
18 – 24
Cost & Financial Aid
Avg Net Price
$12,997
$16,177
Tuition (In-State)
$9,648
$10,020
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$27,360
$22,020
Pell Grant Rate % students receiving Pell Grants
20.4%
30.2%
Federal Loan Rate
44.1%
43.8%
Career Outcomes
Median Salary (10yr)
$55,939
$54,990
Graduation Rate
61.7%
49.6%
Retention Rate Freshmen who return for 2nd year
81.5%
72.1%
Campus Life
Total Enrollment
17,705
16,762
Undergrad Enrollment
20,653
21,431
Type
Public
Public
Setting
Urban
Urban

πŸ“‹ Report Cards

West Virginia University

Academics
C+
Value
A-
Admissions
C
Diversity
C

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Academics
C
Value
A-
Admissions
C
Diversity
B+

βš–οΈ Expert Analysis

West Virginia University and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: West Virginia University is more selective with a 86.3% acceptance rate compared to University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's 88.4%. Average SAT scores are 1129 and 1090 respectively.

Cost: West Virginia University offers a lower average net price at $12,997, which is $3,180 less than University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee ($16,177). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from West Virginia University earn a median salary of $55,939 ten years after enrollment, which is $949 more than University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee graduates ($54,990).

Graduation: West Virginia University leads with a 61.7% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 81.5% vs 72.1%.

Campus Size: West Virginia University is the larger campus with 17,705 total students, while University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has 16,762.

Bottom Line: West Virginia University stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates β€” making it the stronger value proposition overall.

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