WSU vs. WVU

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

 WSU WVU
Location Detroit, MI Morgantown, WV
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 23,553 24,200
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #580 #534
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wayne.edu wvu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 WSU WVU
Tuition (In State) $12,493 $9,648
Tuition (Out of State) $28,615 $27,360
Room & Board $11,762 $13,876
Avg Net Price $16,021 $13,691
Avg Grant Aid $10,862 $11,893
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 93%

Admission

 WSU WVU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,190 19,857
Admitted 12,461 17,129
Acceptance Rate 82% 86.3%
Enrolled % 24% 25.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.45
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 20/26
SAT Range 1040/1260 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 1, 2026

Academics

 WSU WVU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)

Outcomes

 WSU WVU
Graduation Rate 26% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,000 $50,600
Making Student Loan Payments 38% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,258 $24,001
Median Loan Payment $230 $248

Diversity

 WSU WVU
% Men 12% 10%
% Women 19% 13%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 57% 81%
% Black 19% 5%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 5% 0%

Students

 WSU WVU
% In-State 95% 43%
% Out-of-State 2% 56%

Campus

 WSU 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 WSU based on total student enrollment (24,200 students vs. 23,553 students)

WSU vs. WVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WSU or WVU?

  • Wayne State University is 29.5% more expensive to attend than WVU for in-state tuition ($12,493.00 vs. $9,648.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.6% higher at WSU than West Virginia University ($28,615.00 vs. $27,360.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Virginia University than WSU ($13,691 vs. $16,021)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State University are 18% lower than costs at West Virginia University ($11,762 vs. $13,876)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wayne State University than West Virginia University (95% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by West Virginia University students is 9.5% larger than aid received Wayne State University ($11,893 vs. $10,862)

WSU vs. WVU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at West Virginia University (1078) is 8 points higher than at WSU (1070)
  • Incoming WVU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at WSU (23)
  • Accepted freshman WVU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at WSU (3.42)
  • WVU has a higher acceptance rate (86.3%) than WSU (82%)

WSU vs. WVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WSU 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 WSU.

  • The graduation rate at WVU is higher than Wayne State University (57% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Wayne State University earn on average $400 more per year than WVU graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $50,600)
  • Wayne State University students graduate with a $1,743 lower median federal student loan debt than WVU graduates. ($22,258 vs. $24,001)
  • WSU graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than WVU graduates. ($230 vs. $248)
  • More WVU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 38%)

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