University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming · Public · 96.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 77/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The University of Wyoming scores 77 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, driven by a low net price ($13,599), moderate debt ($18,000), a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.407, and a strong 87.0% repayment rate. In-state tuition is $7,768. Average 6-year earnings of $44,200 and a payback period of 8.9 years are respectable but not exceptional. The 58.8% completion rate is the main drag on the score. UW is the sole public four-year flagship in Wyoming, giving it captive demand from Wyoming residents who receive heavily subsidized pricing. Engineering, nursing, computer science, and finance all produce solid outcomes; lower-earnings fields like fine arts, sociology, and psychology drag the aggregate median down.
University of Wyoming scores in the top 16% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Wyoming
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,768/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $24,178/yr |
| Average net price | $13,599/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $54,396 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,880 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $44,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $191 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 58.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,944 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $7,768/year ($24,178/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $13,599/year, or roughly $54,396 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $7,977/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,634/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $18,000, which works out to about $191 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($44,200) and comes to 0.41, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,977 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,730 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $9,585 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,205 |
| $110,001+ | $19,634 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income Wyoming residents (under $30,000) pay $7,977 net per year. Against $44,200 average 6-year earnings and strong repayment data, the financial case for low-income Wyoming students is compelling, particularly for engineering, CS, nursing, or finance majors. The 58.8% completion rate is the primary risk - students should enter with a declared major and clear plan.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $9,585 per year. The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $15,205. At these prices, nearly any program with decent labor market outcomes justifies the cost.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
High-income families ($110,000+) pay $19,634 per year - roughly $79,000 over four years. Out-of-state students pay $24,178 in tuition and face a higher net price; for out-of-state high-income students, the Wyoming credential has limited national brand value outside specific fields.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Wyoming with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $52,732 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $83,525 | B+ |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $55,338 | B |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $51,552 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $57,016 | C+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $80,827 | B+ |
| Teacher Education | $51,967 | B+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $57,949 | D |
| Marketing | $58,703 | C+ |
| Genetics | $44,424 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science is UW's top-performing program on combined earnings and ROI: 36 graduates, $71,664 first-year earnings, $99,287 at four years, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.199 (ROI grade A). Median debt of $14,250 is the lowest among UW's tracked programs. Against in-state tuition of $7,768, CS at UW produces an outstanding cost-to-earnings ratio.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is UW's highest-volume high-earnings program: 142 graduates, $71,504 first-year earnings, $83,525 at four years, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.310 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $22,185 is moderate. Wyoming's healthcare market is thin relative to most states, but registered nurses in rural and frontier settings often command premium wages for underserved coverage areas. UW nursing graduates who remain in Wyoming fill a genuine regional gap; those who relocate to Denver or Salt Lake City enter competitive but well-compensated markets.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (78 graduates) earns $57,777 first-year and $80,827 at four years, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.273 (ROI grade B+) and median debt of $15,750. At $7,768 in-state tuition, finance at UW produces a favorable cost-to-earnings ratio. Graduates access regional financial services employment in Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. The low median debt is particularly notable - finance students at UW borrow well below the campus average.
Psychology
Psychology is UW's largest tracked program at 159 graduates, with $29,139 first-year earnings, $52,732 at four years, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.704 (ROI grade D). Year-one earnings of $29,139 are low even in Wyoming's modest cost-of-living context. Most UW psychology graduates targeting clinical roles need a master's or doctoral degree, which adds substantial cost to a degree that is already producing weak near-term returns. At $7,768 in-state tuition, psychology at UW is primarily justifiable as a graduate school prep track.
Natural Resources Conservation
Natural Resources Conservation is one of UW's distinctive program strengths at 91 graduates - the third-largest tracked program - with $32,362 first-year earnings, $51,552 at four years, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.564 (ROI grade C). Year-one earnings are limited by entry-level federal wages, but career stability is strong. Median debt of $18,250 is low. This program makes sense for students committed to conservation careers in the West; it is not primarily a financial-optimization choice.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 84.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 87.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 77.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 82.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Wyoming’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 96.9% |
| Enrollment | 7,944 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 22.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,759 |
At 96.9% admission, UW is effectively open-access for any qualified applicant. No standardized test score ranges are available in the data. The admissions process functions more as enrollment processing than selection. Students should focus less on getting in and more on whether the Laramie environment - remote, high-altitude, harsh winters - is a good match for four years of undergraduate study.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wyoming (this school) | 77 | $13,599 | $56,880 |
| California State University-Stanislaus | 82 | $6,067 | $63,188 |
| California State University-East Bay | 81 | $9,320 | $71,401 |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus | 80 | $15,543 | $62,203 |
| California State University-Monterey Bay | 76 | $13,663 | $59,247 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
Who Thrives Here
UW admits 96.9% of applicants - essentially open access - at 7,944 students on a compact campus in Laramie at 7,200 feet elevation. The Pell grant rate is 22.8%, reflecting Wyoming's relatively small low-income population. UW fits Wyoming residents seeking an affordable flagship credential, particularly in engineering, natural resources, nursing, or business. The 58.8% completion rate suggests the open-access admissions policy brings in students who struggle to persist, particularly in Laramie's isolating winter environment.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of Wyoming pays off. You'd pay about $13,599 a year after aid ($54,396 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $56,880 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 8.9 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $18,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $44,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Wyoming: Common Questions
Is University of Wyoming worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Wyoming pays off. It scores 77/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $13,599 a year after aid ($54,396 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $56,880 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 8.9 years to earn back.
How much does University of Wyoming cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $13,599 a year, or roughly $54,396 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Wyoming graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $56,880 ten years after enrolling, roughly $15,080 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of Wyoming?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.9 years for University of Wyoming. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Wyoming graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $18,000, against average earnings of $44,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Wyoming?
The six-year graduation rate is 58.8%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.