A full junior college, Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser, West Virginia is a two-year affiliate of West Virginia University (WVU). The college is unique in that it is the state’s only residential junior college. The school is located in Keyser, which is just 100 miles away from Morgantown, or West Virginia University’s main campus. The school, which offers associate’s degrees, acts as an entry college for students wanting to finish their education at a four-year school or at WVU.

Established in 1901, the college participates in athletics, with its teams referred to as the Catamounts. The school is a part of the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference and regularly competes against other community and junior college teams.

The school confers one and two year certificates and two and four-year degrees in some of the following subjects:

• Forestry
• Civil engineering
• Secretarial science
• Animal sciences
• Civil engineering
• Criminal justice
• Liberal arts and sciences
• Mechanical engineering
• Physical education
• Pre-occupational therapy
• Pre-nursing
• Elementary education
• Pre-pharmacy
• Registered nursing
• Secondary education
• Science technologies

WVU provides students with specialized learning opportunities, including distance learning, weekend and evening college, and study abroad. Credit is accepted in the form of dual credit, credit for life experiences, and advanced placement. Students can obtain financial aid through direct loans and Pell grants. The student population currently stands at about 1,865 students. Of that number, about 1,400 are enrolled full-time. The school, which is located at 101 Fort Avenue, can be contacted by phone at 304-788-6820.

Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College began operations in 1963 as two branches of Marshall University located in the counties of Mingo and Logan in West Virginia. The two campuses became independent in 1971, forming an independent institution of higher learning.

Since its inception the school has worked to expand its academic, workforce development and community service offerings. Over the years the service area of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College has grown, and currently includes portions of Kentucky, with residents able to enroll while paying in state tuition fees.

Academics

Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College offers degree and diploma programs to its students. These programs either prepare students to enter the workforce with skills and knowledge relevant to their chosen field of study or have students transferring to four year institutions to continue their post-secondary education.

Students interested in developing their career skills will find that upon completion of a technical or vocational program that they are able to perform tasks and duties at the entry level. Transfer to a four year institution is facilitated by 2+2 agreements in place that allows students who complete a specific set of courses and maintain a certain GPA to transfer to one of the partner universities a third year student.

Academic programs include:

• Electrical Engineering
• Nursing
• Early Childhood Education
• Criminal Justice
• Forensic Psychology

Admissions and Financial Aid

Students interested in enrolling at Southern may begin the process by obtaining an admissions application. Students should complete and submit the application along with all relevant transcripts, immunization records, and test scores. The school utilizes an open enrollment policy, and offers spaces in programs on a first come first serve basis.

Scholarships, grants loans, and work study programs are available to students in need of financial aid. Students interested in receiving financial aid should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to determine eligibility and awards.

Located at 300 Campus Drive in Parkersburg, West Virginia, West Virginia University at Parkersburg provides academic programs that lead to a certificates or associates or bachelor’s degrees. Program offerings at the regional college include:

• Criminal justice/police science
• Criminal justice/safety studies
• Business administration
• Business/Commerce
• Animation and Interactive technology
• Elementary education
• Emergency Medical Technology (EMT)
• Engineering technologies
• Executive assistant training
• Information technology
• Liberal arts and sciences
• Machine shop technology
• Precision metal working
• Registered nursing
• Science technologies

Popular areas of study at the college include business management and marketing, health-related courses, education, mechanic and repair technologies, and liberal arts and sciences.

Currently, just over 60% of the students at the college attend school full-time and just over 45% of the attendees are registered part-time. Tuition for in-state students is approximately $2,500 per year while out-of-state students spend approximately $8,850 annually. Currently, about 4,450 undergraduates attend classes at the college. For more information, you can contact the school at 800-WVA-WVUP, or 800-982-9887.

On the 9^th of May in 1972, the West Virginia Board of Regents created a community college by merging the Hancock Country Branch and Wheeling Campus of West Liberty State College to create the West Virginia Northern Community College. Simply called The Northern, the WVNCC is located in Wheeling in West Virginia. Today, WVNCC offers two-year associate degree programs as well as technical and certificate programs to six counties in West Virginia. WVNCC also has branches in other places including Weirton and New Martinsville to meet the demands of the community for technical education.

WVNCC has grown into the largest institution in West Virginia. It offers more than 70 programs to students of different age, race and culture.  WVNCC offer a wide variety of courses in different disciplines including arts, sciences, communication, development study, criminal justice and community service. The school aims to spread education to local residents thereby not only empowering the labor market but also the immediate community surrounding the campus.

The tuition fee rate of WVNCC differs depending on the type of program as well as residence of the enrollees. In-district students have to pay $100 per credit hour while out-of-district and out-of-state students have to pay $329 per credit hour.

On the other hand, students who wish to proceed to a four-year bachelor’s course in another college or university can take advantage of the transfer program of the school. Currently, WVNCC has formal agreements with Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Marshall University, West Virginia Wesleyan College and West Liberty University.