Marshall University vs. WVU

Should I go to Marshall University or West Virginia University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Marshall University or WVU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Marshall University vs. West Virginia University comparison
Marshall University West Virginia University College 3 College 4
Marshall University West Virginia University
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Overview

Marshall University WVU
Location Huntington, WV Morgantown, WV
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 11,027 24,200
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #825 #534
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website marshall.edu wvu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Marshall University WVU
Tuition (In State) $7,372 $9,648
Tuition (Out of State) $18,724 $27,360
Room & Board $12,852 $13,876
Avg Net Price $9,734 $13,691
Avg Grant Aid $12,024 $11,893
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 93%

Admission

Marshall University WVU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,499 19,857
Admitted 6,269 17,129
Acceptance Rate 96.5% 86.3%
Enrolled % 27.7% 25.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.45
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 20/26
SAT Range 890/1130 1010/1240
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 10, 2025

Academics

Marshall University WVU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)

Outcomes

Marshall University WVU
Graduation Rate 44% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,200 $50,600
Making Student Loan Payments 43% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,134 $24,001
Median Loan Payment $239 $248

Diversity

Marshall University WVU
% Men 9% 10%
% Women 17% 13%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 84% 81%
% Black 7% 5%
% Hispanic 2% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 6%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

Marshall University WVU
% In-State 78% 43%
% Out-of-State 22% 56%

Campus

Marshall University WVU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • West Virginia University is larger than than Marshall University based on total student enrollment (24,200 students vs. 11,027 students)

Marshall University vs. WVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Marshall University or WVU?

  • West Virginia University is 30.9% more expensive to attend than Marshall University for in-state tuition ($9,648.00 vs. $7,372.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 46.1% higher at WVU than Marshall University ($27,360.00 vs. $18,724.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Marshall University than WVU ($9,734 vs. $13,691)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Marshall University are 8% lower than costs at West Virginia University ($12,852 vs. $13,876)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Marshall University than West Virginia University (96% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Marshall University students is 1.1% larger than aid received West Virginia University ($12,024 vs. $11,893)

Marshall University vs. WVU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Marshall University or WVU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WVU or Marshall University .

  • The average SAT score at West Virginia University (1078) is 50 points higher than at Marshall University (1028)
  • Incoming WVU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Marshall University (23)
  • Accepted freshman Marshall University students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at WVU (3.45)
  • Marshall University has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than WVU (86.3%)

Marshall University vs. WVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Marshall University or WVU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WVU and Marshall University.

  • The graduation rate at WVU is higher than Marshall University (57% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from West Virginia University earn on average $10,400 more per year than Marshall University graduates after ten years. ($50,600 vs. $40,200)
  • Marshall University students graduate with a $867 lower median federal student loan debt than WVU graduates. ($23,134 vs. $24,001)
  • Marshall University graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than WVU graduates. ($239 vs. $248)
  • More WVU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Marshall University students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 43%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/