Best Wyoming Colleges & Universities

Best Wyoming Colleges: Rankings

Compared to more highly populated states, Wyoming's higher education presence is smaller, but there are still plenty of great options for aspiring students. Those options are the focus of our rankings of best Wyoming colleges. We looked at the factors that matter most to students, such as tuition, future earning potential and student-to-faculty ratio. The rankings provide a great overview of the top Wyoming institutions.

Methodology +

Minimum Qualifications

• Located in Wyoming
• Public or private not-for-profit
• Institutionally accredited
• At least 5 total programs

Ranking Metrics

• Median annual alumni earnings 10 years after entering the college
• In-state tuition and fees for undergraduates
• Student/teacher ratio
• % of students receiving institutional financial aid (first-time, full-time undergrads)
• Average amount of institutional aid awarded per student (first-time, full-time undergrads)
• Availability of placement services upon completion
• Availability of academic/career counseling services
• Availability of employment services
• 3-year student cohort loan default rate

Data Sources

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS): National Center for Education Statistics

• Latest 'Final Release' data available as of Fall 2016

College Scorecard: U.S. Department of Education

• Latest data available as of Fall 2016

Minimum Qualifications

• Located in Wyoming
• Public or private not-for-profit
• Institutionally accredited
• At least 10 total programs

Ranking Metrics

• Median annual alumni earnings 10 years after entering the college
• In-state tuition and fees for undergraduates
• Student/teacher ratio
• 6-year graduation rate
• % of students receiving institutional financial aid (first-time, full-time undergrads)
• Average amount of institutional aid awarded per student (first-time, full-time undergrads)
• Availability of placement services upon completion
• Availability of academic/career counseling services
• Availability of employment services
• 3-year student cohort loan default rate

Data Sources

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS): National Center for Education Statistics

• Latest 'Final Release' data available as of Fall 2016

College Scorecard: U.S. Department of Education

• Latest data available as of Fall 2016

• 2-Year Colleges
• 4-Year Colleges

Rank	School Name	Score	Tuition Fees	Alumni Earnings	Student/Teacher Ratio	Gift Financial Aid	Description	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate	# Online Programs	# Total Programs	Placement Services	Credit for Experience
1	Casper College	98.73	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $ $$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $26,500	N/A	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 42%		30%	N/A	4	N/A	Yes	No
2	Northwest College	93.06	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $ $$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $26,500	N/A	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 80%		26%	N/A	0	N/A	No	Yes
3	Central Wyoming College	92.91	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $ $$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $26,500	N/A	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 67%		29%	N/A	3	N/A	No	Yes
4	Laramie County Community College	90.72	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $ $$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $26,500	N/A	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 31%		14%	N/A	10	N/A	No	No
5	Western Wyoming Community College	89.32	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $ $$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $26,500	N/A	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 39%		53%	N/A	22	N/A	Yes	Yes
6	Sheridan College	87.42	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $ $$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $26,500	N/A	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 54%		26%	N/A	6	N/A	No	Yes
7	Eastern Wyoming College	86	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $ $$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $26,500	N/A	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 63%		35%	N/A	3	N/A	Yes	No

Rank	School Name	Score	Tuition Fees	Alumni Earnings	Student/Teacher Ratio	Gift Financial Aid	Description	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate	# Online Programs	# Total Programs	Placement Services	Credit for Experience
1	University of Wyoming	86	Published in-state tuition and fees for undergraduate students. $ $$$$	Annual median earnings 10 years after entering the college. Only includes former students who received federal financial aid. $26,500	N/A	First-time, full-time undergraduates receiving grant or scholarship aid directly from the postsecondary institution. 65%		54%	98%	3	N/A	Yes	Yes

Cost of College in Wyoming: How Does It Stack Up?

Tuition and financial aid are two important factors prospective college students should examine when deciding how much a school costs. The charts below provide a good look at the average Wyoming tuition, the average financial aid award and the percentage of students who receive financial aid when enrolling in college. This can help students get a feel for just how much they might expect to see tuition drop when their financial aid reward comes in.

Most Affordable Wyoming Colleges

As a whole, the cost of college in Wyoming is well below the national average. However, how do Wyoming's colleges stack up against each other in terms of cost? The following rankings list the most affordable colleges in Wyoming by taking each school's tuition cost and subtracting the typical financial aid in order to calculate an overall net price.

• 1
  
  University of Wyoming$11,292

• 2
  
  CollegeAmerica-Cheyenne$24,908

Average
Annual Net
Price

Cost for students awarded federal financial aid, after school and government aid is deducted. At public colleges, only applies to in-state students.

Wyoming College Net Price vs. National Average

$18,100

Average Annual Net Price

$18,073

Source: College Scorecard
Note: Rankings/data represent 4-year public and private nonprofit schools only.

Wyoming Colleges with Highest Alumni Earnings

In order to determine the return on a college investment, prospective students may want to look at their future earning potential. Though the potential income earned by graduates depends on many factors, a few schools tend to produce graduates who make higher wages than others. The following data represents the top two Wyoming colleges with respect to alumni who make the most money ten years after entering college.

• 1
  
  University of Wyoming$46,200

• 2
  
  CollegeAmerica-Cheyenne$28,800

Annual
Median Earnings
10 Years
After Entering
College

Only includes former students who received federal financial aid.

Wyoming Alumni Salaries vs. National Average

$37,500

Annual Median Earnings 10 Years After Entering College

$42,759

Source: College Scorecard
Note: Rankings/data represent 4-year public and private nonprofit schools only.

Colleges in Wyoming With Least Alumni Debt

Another method of calculating the return on a college investment is looking at how much debt graduates carry after college. Student loans can significantly burden a graduate's future professional and personal goals, so it is important to leave college with as little debt as possible. The following list shows the best Wyoming colleges in terms of alumni debt.

• 1
  
  University of Wyoming$19,000

• 2
  
  CollegeAmerica-Cheyenne$27,257

Median
Federal Student
Loan Debt After
Graduation

Only for undergraduates who completed college; does not include Parent-PLUS loans.

Wyoming College Grad Debt Vs. National Average

$23,128

Median Federal Student Loan Debt After Graduation

$23,145

Source: College Scorecard
Note: Rankings/data represent 4-year public and private nonprofit schools only.

Wyoming Cost of Living: College Expenses Beyond Tuition

The final piece in calculating the cost of college in Wyoming is determining the cost of living for the area where a particular school is located. Overall, according to Sperling's Best Places, Wyoming has a cost of living about 4 percent greater than the national average. However, that does not mean that all metro areas of the state are going to be too expensive for students to live comfortably while going to school. This chart details the cost of living in those areas and in the state as a whole.

Source: The Council for Community and Economic Research

Accrediting Agencies for Colleges in Wyoming

When choosing a Wyoming college, accreditation status is vitally important. Accreditation ensures that a degree or credential comes from a school that has met the standards of a quality education. Employers recognize degrees from accredited institutions, financial aid options might be more abundant for those who attend accredited schools and often times credits from one school will only transfer to another if the transferring institution is accredited.

Accrediting bodies usually accredit schools as a whole, known as institutional accreditation, or they will accredit individual programs. The Higher Learning Commission, a regional accrediting organization, accredits Wyoming schools at the institutional level. Two examples of accrediting agencies for specific programs include the following:

• The American Bar Association accredits the law school at University of Wyoming.
• The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing accredits the nursing program at Casper College.

Major College Cities in Wyoming

Cheyenne

According to the City of Cheyenne website, Cheyenne got its roots as a frontier town and now serves as the state capital. With a bustling downtown and busy outdoor scene, residents can partake in everything from a thriving nightlife to rock climbing. While not an average college town, students who attend one of the few post-secondary educational institutions will have plenty to see and enjoy in Cheyenne.

College Name	School Type	Annual Net Price	Annual Median Earnings 10 Years After College Only includes former students who received federal financial aid.
Laramie County Community College	Public	$9,010	$32,400
LCCC has 3,500 full-time equivalent students and offers a variety of programs, including agribusiness technology, nursing, anthropology, computer science, web design and music. Students can choose from 67 programs that lead to associate degrees and 25 programs that award certificates. This community college provides strong support for organized athletics, including soccer, rodeo and volleyball.

Laramie

Laramie has evolved into a quaint town with strong historical culture. For college students who love the outdoors, Laramie will be a very enjoyable place to study. While Laramie isn't a typical college town, the University of Wyoming and Wyoming Technical Institute are big draws for students from across the state.

College Name	School Type	Annual Net Price	Annual Median Earnings 10 Years After College Only includes former students who received federal financial aid.
University of Wyoming	Public	$11,292	$46,200
With a student body of 14,000, the University of Wyoming provides over 190 areas of study, including pharmacy, law, energy resources, business and engineering. Even though the University of Wyoming is a major state institution, class sizes are a reasonable 29 students on average. Students interested in studying abroad will appreciate the fact that the university has the single largest endowment for study abroad support.
Wyoming Technical Institute	Private for-profit	$29,810	$41,500
WyoTech originated in 1966 in a single building. Today, Wyoming Technical Institute has several campuses nationwide, including the flagship in Laramie. WyoTech currently serves as a major vocational training institution for Wyoming students by providing over 300,000 square feet for instructional learning. Courses offered are primarily based in automotive studies and include automotive technology, collision refinishing technology and diesel technology.

Source: College Scorecard

College Resources for Students in Wyoming

Attending college is a big step. This list of resources can help students with career development, financial assistance and general college information.