Memphis vs. WVU

Should I go to University of Memphis or West Virginia University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Memphis 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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University of Memphis vs. West Virginia University comparison
University of Memphis West Virginia University College 3 College 4
University of Memphis West Virginia University
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Overview

 Memphis WVU
Location Memphis, TN Morgantown, WV
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 21,917 24,741
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #883 #559
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website memphis.edu wvu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Memphis WVU
Tuition (In State) $8,352 $9,360
Tuition (Out of State) $12,576 $26,568
Room & Board $10,126 $11,618
Avg Net Price $13,873 $12,202
Avg Grant Aid $9,625 $11,685
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 94%

Admission

 Memphis WVU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,767 18,206
Admitted 14,916 16,091
Acceptance Rate 94.6% 88.4%
Enrolled % 16.2% 28.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.48 3.45
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24 20/26
SAT Range 930/1230 1000/1220
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 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

 Memphis WVU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • General Studies (11%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)

Outcomes

 Memphis WVU
Graduation Rate 38% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,200 $50,600
Making Student Loan Payments 37% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,250 $24,001
Median Loan Payment $261 $248

Diversity

 Memphis WVU
% Men 40% 47%
% Women 60% 53%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 50% 81%
% Black 37% 5%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 1% 6%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

 Memphis WVU
% In-State 81% 42%
% Out-of-State 17% 57%

Campus

 Memphis 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 Memphis based on total student enrollment (24,741 students vs. 21,917 students)

Memphis vs. WVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Memphis or WVU?

  • West Virginia University is 12.1% more expensive to attend than Memphis for in-state tuition ($9,360.00 vs. $8,352.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 111.3% higher at WVU than University of Memphis ($26,568.00 vs. $12,576.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Virginia University than Memphis ($12,202 vs. $13,873)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Memphis are 14.7% lower than costs at West Virginia University ($10,126 vs. $11,618)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Memphis than West Virginia University (98% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by West Virginia University students is 21.4% larger than aid received University of Memphis ($11,685 vs. $9,625)

Memphis vs. WVU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at West Virginia University (1078) is 49 points higher than at Memphis (1029)
  • Incoming WVU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at Memphis (22)
  • Accepted freshman Memphis students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at WVU (3.45)
  • Memphis has a higher acceptance rate (94.6%) than WVU (88.4%)

Memphis vs. WVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Memphis 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 Memphis.

  • The graduation rate at WVU is higher than University of Memphis (57% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from West Virginia University earn on average $8,400 more per year than Memphis graduates after ten years. ($50,600 vs. $42,200)
  • West Virginia University students graduate with a $1,249 lower median federal student loan debt than Memphis graduates. ($24,001 vs. $25,250)
  • WVU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Memphis graduates. ($248 vs. $261)
  • More WVU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Memphis students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 37%)

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