Cost of college in Wyoming
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Wyoming averages $6,241 a year, or $10,955 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $49,021 and owe about $13,912. The net price pays back in about 6.1 years.
How Wyoming compares to the US
Wyoming ranks #49 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #45 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #37 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Wyoming | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $6,241 | $9,518 | -$3,277 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $17,684 | $23,652 | -$5,968 |
| Net price after aid | $10,955 | $13,788 | -$2,833 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $49,021 | $56,427 | -$7,406 |
| Median debt at graduation | $13,912 | $17,856 | -$3,944 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Wyoming pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Wyoming costs about $43,820 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 6.1 years from the roughly $7,221-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #37 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Wyoming?
At a public 4-year college in Wyoming, in-state tuition and fees average about $6,241 a year and out-of-state runs about $17,684. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $10,955. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Wyoming earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Wyoming's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $49,021 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $13,912 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Wyoming?
A public 4-year degree in Wyoming costs about $43,820 over four years at net price and recoups in about 6.1 years from the roughly $7,221-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.