SUNY Cortland vs. WVU

Deciding between State University of New York at Cortland and West Virginia University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

State University of New York at Cortland
West Virginia University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SUNY Cortland Cortland, NY
  • WVU Morgantown, WV
  • Setting
  • SUNY Cortland Rural Fringe
  • WVU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • SUNY Cortland 6,938
  • WVU 23,643
  • Type
  • SUNY Cortland Public 4 Year
  • WVU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SUNY Cortland #422
  • WVU #566
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SUNY Cortland -
  • WVU -
  • Status
  • SUNY Cortland Non-profit
  • WVU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SUNY Cortland
  • WVU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SUNY Cortland $8,874
  • WVU $10,104
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SUNY Cortland $18,784
  • WVU $28,608
  • Room & Board
  • SUNY Cortland $15,560
  • WVU $14,582
  • Average Net Price
  • SUNY Cortland $19,847
  • WVU $15,169
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SUNY Cortland $8,254
  • WVU $12,363
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SUNY Cortland 63%
  • WVU 94%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SUNY Cortland 17,571
  • WVU 18,729
  • Admitted
  • SUNY Cortland 10,505
  • WVU 16,669
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SUNY Cortland 59.8%
  • WVU 89%
  • Enrolled
  • SUNY Cortland 13.3%
  • WVU 24.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SUNY Cortland 1170
  • WVU 1120
  • Typical ACT score
  • SUNY Cortland 24
  • WVU 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • SUNY Cortland 3.7
  • WVU 3.45
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SUNY Cortland A-
  • WVU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • SUNY Cortland Average
  • WVU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • SUNY Cortland Low
  • WVU
  • ACT Range
  • SUNY Cortland 22/27
  • WVU 20/26
  • SAT Range
  • SUNY Cortland 1090/1240
  • WVU 1010/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SUNY Cortland Test-free
  • WVU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SUNY Cortland
  • WVU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SUNY Cortland 15:1
  • WVU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SUNY Cortland
    • Education (41%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (16%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Health Professions (5%)
  • WVU
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SUNY Cortland 67%
  • WVU 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SUNY Cortland $47,300
  • WVU $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SUNY Cortland 75%
  • WVU 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SUNY Cortland $21,500
  • WVU $24,001
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SUNY Cortland $222
  • WVU $248
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SUNY Cortland 44%
  • WVU 47%
  • % Women
  • SUNY Cortland 56%
  • WVU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SUNY Cortland Low
  • WVU Low
  • HBCU
  • SUNY Cortland No
  • WVU No
  • % White
  • SUNY Cortland 74%
  • WVU 81%
  • % Asian
  • SUNY Cortland 1%
  • WVU 1%
  • % Black
  • SUNY Cortland 6%
  • WVU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • SUNY Cortland 11%
  • WVU 4%
  • % Native American
  • SUNY Cortland 0%
  • WVU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SUNY Cortland 0%
  • WVU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SUNY Cortland 2%
  • WVU 3%
  • % International
  • SUNY Cortland 1%
  • WVU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SUNY Cortland 5%
  • WVU 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SUNY Cortland 93%
  • WVU 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SUNY Cortland 5%
  • WVU 58%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • SUNY Cortland Yes
  • WVU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • SUNY Cortland Yes
  • WVU No
  • Meal Plan
  • SUNY Cortland Yes
  • WVU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • SUNY Cortland No
  • WVU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • SUNY Cortland Yes
  • WVU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare State University of New York at Cortland in Cortland, NY with West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

West Virginia University is larger than SUNY Cortland based on total student enrollment (23,643 students vs. 6,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • State University of New York at Cortland is located in Cortland, NY (Rural Fringe setting); West Virginia University is in Morgantown, WV (Small City setting).
  • State University of New York at Cortland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. West Virginia University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: State University of New York at Cortland 15:1; West Virginia University 19:1.

SUNY Cortland vs. WVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY Cortland or WVU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Virginia University than SUNY Cortland ($15,169 vs. $19,847).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Virginia University are 6.3% lower than at State University of New York at Cortland ($14,582 vs. $15,560).
  • West Virginia University is 13.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Cortland (about $1,230 more per year; $10,104.00 vs. $8,874.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 52.3% higher at WVU than at State University of New York at Cortland (about $9,824 more per year; $28,608.00 vs. $18,784.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Virginia University than at State University of New York at Cortland (94% vs. 63%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by West Virginia University students is 49.8% larger than aid received by State University of New York at Cortland students ($12,363 vs. $8,254).

SUNY Cortland vs. WVU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SUNY Cortland or WVU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WVU and SUNY Cortland.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at State University of New York at Cortland (1170) is 50 points higher than at WVU (1120).
  • Incoming SUNY Cortland students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at WVU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: State University of New York at Cortland 1090/1240; West Virginia University 1010/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: State University of New York at Cortland 22/27; West Virginia University 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY Cortland - Test-free; WVU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Cortland students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at WVU (3.45).
  • WVU has a higher acceptance rate (89%) than SUNY Cortland (59.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.3% at SUNY Cortland vs. 24.8% at WVU.

SUNY Cortland vs. WVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SUNY Cortland and WVU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • State University of New York at Cortland's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than West Virginia University's (57%).
  • Graduates from West Virginia University earn a median of about $3,300 more per year than SUNY Cortland graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,600 vs. $47,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, State University of New York at Cortland graduates have a $2,501 lower median loan debt than WVU graduates ($21,500 vs. $24,001).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY Cortland graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WVU graduates ($222 vs. $248).
  • More SUNY Cortland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WVU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.