List of Private Universities & Colleges in West Virginia

West Virginia, also known as The Mountain State, is the twenty-ninth most densely populated state in the country while being the ninth smallest by land area. It can be found adjacent to Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, and Pennsylvania in the Appalachian region of the country. The state has over 80 accredited higher education institutions of all sizes. Private colleges in West Virginia can be found from Elkins to Salem and from Bethany to Wheeling. Top ranked private colleges in West Virginia starts will West Virginia Wesleyan College, Salem International University, and Bethany College.

How are Private Colleges in West Virginia Different from Other Colleges?

Private universities distinguish themselves from public colleges in a variety of ways. First, private colleges do not accept state funding. Rather, they operate through the prudent use of grants, internal operations, corporate donations, tuition, endowment funds, and alumni donations. Second, the size of private colleges tends to be significantly smaller than their public university counterparts. Enrollment will vary from school to school but the aggregate size will often be on the smaller side. Last, a private school will generally provide an academic catalogue that is more focused yet abbreviated than a state university.

Top Ranked Degrees at Private Colleges in West Virginia

Students matriculating at a private university will have the ability to choose among a number of degree pathways, from emerging research to popular programs. Emerging degrees that may be of interest include robotics, data modeling, industrial technology, and neuroscience. Popular majors may pique your interests that may start with areas of study like child development, history, finance, accounting, engineering, biology, marketing, teaching, or public relations. Regardless of your end-point, begin your journey by collecting salient information from top rated schools found with MatchCollege. Our search modules will allow you to quickly find traditional degrees and online degrees in seconds that fit your unique criteria.

Small to Medium Sized 4-Year Universities

The 4-year schools listed below have a small to medium sized student body and may offer a wide range of associate and bachelor's degrees. Get more information about each school by clicking the links below.

• Alderson Broaddus College (Alderson-Broaddus College) in Philippi, WV
• Bethany College in Bethany, WV
• Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, WV
• Ohio Valley University in Vienna, WV
• Salem International University in Salem, WV
• West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, WV
• Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, WV

Notes: Tuition & fee amounts are for both West Virginia in-state residents and out of state students, unless noted otherwise. The tuition information displayed is an estimate, which we calculated based on historical data and should be solely used for informational purposes only. Please contact the respective school for information about the current school year.

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2015: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.