Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Wyoming #381 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median $61,749 four years after enrollment, placing University of Wyoming in the 51.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of Wyoming sits in the 67.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting graduates who earn about $2,118 more than similar students at comparable institutions. University of Wyoming's composite ranking reflects graduates who earn about $2,118 more than similar students at comparable institutions relative to similar students at comparable institutions — a signal that the university's program mix converts enrollment into durable earnings gains. Median $61,749 four years after enrollment, combined with a strong earnings-beyond-expectations standing among nonprofit four-year institutions, positions University of Wyoming as a reliable return-on-investment option for students weighing Wyoming's flagship public university.
Azimuth ranks University of Wyoming #381 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 74.0 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Laramie, WY, University of Wyoming enrolls roughly 7,944 undergraduates. Retention stands at 79.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 58.8%, reflecting solid degree-completion performance for a broad-access public university in the Mountain West. The composite is anchored by return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of Wyoming #570 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 61.5 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median $61,749 four years after enrollment, placing University of Wyoming in the 51.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,118 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Wyoming in the 67.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business is the institution's primary program concentration and a key driver of those outcomes. Access and mobility sit lower in the composite. University of Wyoming admits roughly 96.9% of applicants — a broad-access posture — and 22.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants, with 27.7% identifying as first-generation students. University of Wyoming sits in the 32.0 percentile for access and the 80.3 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the structural constraints of serving a geographically dispersed, lower-density regional labor market. Affordability sits in the 86.5 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
University of Wyoming's published cost of attendance is $24,818. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $7,977, middle-income families pay around $9,585, and higher-income families pay approximately $19,634. Azimuth ranks University of Wyoming #193 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. University of Wyoming participates in federal need-based aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid. The university's tuition structure as a public institution keeps sticker prices lower than comparable private universities, though net price and sticker price can differ substantially. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and aid packages typically combine grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $61,749, median federal debt of $18,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $203 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Wyoming is a strong fit for students drawn to business, applied sciences, and professional fields who want a public research university experience in WY with a clear path to solid post-graduation earnings. Graduates earn in the 51.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and University of Wyoming sits in the 67.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $2,118 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students prioritizing long-term financial outcomes. The access profile is broad. 22.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 27.7% are first-generation students, and University of Wyoming sits in the 85.1 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure — making it a credible option for cost-sensitive and first-generation families seeking a flagship-caliber institution without the price of higher-cost alternatives. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, and the institution's regional footprint in West means students planning to build careers outside WY should weigh local labor-market depth against national mobility options.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the University Of Wyoming hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Petroleum Engineering
22 graduates
Computer Science
33 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
58 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
148 graduates
Civil Engineering
38 graduates
University of Wyoming's program mix is anchored in business, natural resources, and applied professional fields — a signature shaped by Wyoming's land-grant identity and the state's energy and agricultural economy. Business is the dominant program family, accounting for 16% of graduates, followed by Engineering at 8% and Education at 8%.
Across 64 programs serving roughly 2,306 students annually, the university balances applied career-ready fields with foundational disciplines tied to Wyoming's core industries. Nursing anchors the institution's strongest aggregate return, combining meaningful cohort scale with solid four-year earnings — a combination that makes it a key driver of University of Wyoming's overall financial outcomes.
Among the most popular programs, Nursing program graduates 148 students and delivers median earnings of $83,525 four years after enrollment, with Azimuth ranking the program #241 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Psychology, General and Teacher Education round out the high-enrollment tier, each connecting large student cohorts to stable regional and national labor markets.
See [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) for the full methodology behind these rankings. The highest-earning programs at University of Wyoming are concentrated in technical and applied fields.
Mechanical Engineering leads with median earnings of $87,533 four years after enrollment, with Azimuth ranking it #190 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Nursing and Accounting follow closely, both representing high-mobility, direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter industries with strong wage growth and consistent hiring demand.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with national labor-market trends.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kent State University At Kent Similar quality tier (#15119 ranked) | OH | 86% | $45,388 | #15119 | Compare |
University Of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Similar quality tier (#15131 ranked) | PR | 55% | $35,723 | #15131 | Compare |
University Of West Alabama Similar quality tier (#15134 ranked) | AL | 43% | $44,232 | #15134 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-Whitewater Similar quality tier (#15137 ranked) | WI | 86% | $55,356 | #15137 | Compare |
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania Similar quality tier (#15113 ranked) | PA | 93% | $52,416 | #15113 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of Wyoming's published cost of attendance is $24,818. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $7,977, middle-income families pay around $9,585, and higher-income families pay approximately $19,634.
Azimuth ranks University of Wyoming #193 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
University of Wyoming participates in federal need-based aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid. The university's tuition structure as a public institution keeps sticker prices lower than comparable private universities, though [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/).
Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and aid packages typically combine grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $61,749, median federal debt of $18,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $203 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $61,749, placing University of Wyoming in the 51.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,118 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Wyoming in the 67.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of Wyoming #570 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 61.5 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent meaningful returns relative to WY's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $36,068, the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential.
The earnings pattern at University of Wyoming is anchored by Business, which forms the core of the institution's degree output and drives a substantial share of graduate outcomes. Nursing stands out as the program combining the broadest cohort scale with the strongest earnings, making it a key contributor to the university's overall return profile.
The Nursing program graduates 148 students four years after enrollment with median earnings of $83,525, and Azimuth ranks the program #241 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Psychology, General and Teacher Education also contribute meaningfully to the institution's earnings profile, with 137 and 99 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $52,732 and $51,967, respectively.
Subject-Specific Teacher Education and Kinesiology round out the top programs, each delivering competitive median earnings four years after enrollment relative to the nonprofit four-year institutions benchmark.
