Best College ROI in Wy 2026
5 colleges in Wy analyzed for return on investment. University of Wyoming leads with a ROI Score of 85/100 (STRONG BUY).
Wy has 5 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 5 public institutions and 0 private ones. Across the 5 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $24K and earn $70K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
100% of Wy colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at University of Wyoming (median $92K on Mechanical Engineering).
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Wy
University of Wyoming
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Wy's ROI rankings on its Mechanical Engineering program. Graduates earn a median $92K in their first year against $22K in median debt.
Central Wyoming College
Public · Verdict: BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Business Administration, Management and Operations. Five-year median earnings: $89K.
Laramie County Community College
Public · Verdict: BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Health and Medical Administrative Services. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $24K.
Top 5 Colleges by ROI in Wy
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wyoming(public) | Mechanical Engineering | $22K | $92K | A (85) |
| 2 | Central Wyoming College(public) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $24K | $65K | B (79) |
| 3 | Laramie County Community College(public) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | $24K | $62K | B (79) |
| 4 | Northwest College(public) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $23K | $65K | B (79) |
| 5 | Western Wyoming Community College(public) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $26K | $65K | B (78) |
College debt and earnings data for Wy is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
University of Wyoming has the best ROI in Wy with a score of 85/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Mechanical Engineering, with $92K in first-year median earnings against $22K in median debt.
Across 5 Wy colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $24K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $70K.
University of Wyoming graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $92K on its top major (Mechanical Engineering). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $129K.
Wy has 5 colleges in our database (5 public, 0 private). Of the 5 with reportable ROI, 100% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).