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West Virginia often goes by the nickname the Mountain State given the topography and association with the Appalachian mountain range. It is bordered by Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky and is the 29th most densely populated state despite being the 9th smallest by land area. Home to over 80 accredited universities and colleges, West Virginia has a vast array of higher education options. State universities can be found from Huntington to Morgantown and from Athens to Parkersburg. Top ranked public colleges in West Virginia include West Virginia University, West Virginia State University, Marshall University, and Fairmont State University. Begin your journey today by finding the perfect college to support your goals. Filter schools by important characteristics, request information from schools of interest, and narrow down your choices to a short-list of top rated programs. The time spent culling universities will be paid back in spades over the years to come.

2024 Best Public Colleges in West Virginia

West Virginia University (WVU) is a public university in Morgantown, West Virginia, offering 193 academic degree programs. The broad range of majors and study programs at WVU include biometric systems, business, community design, study abroad, teacher training, environmental geoscience, interior design, landscape architecture, law, pharmacy, religious studies and theatre arts, among many others. Students have many opportunities at WVU to further customize their academic studies by participating in an honors program, internship, online classes, service learning projects or study abroad programs.

History

After President Abraham Lincoln singed the Morrill Act in 1862 that offered land grants of federal land to each state that agreed to establish a college to teach architecture and engineering, West Virginia established its college in 1867 with six students. Founded under the name of the "Agricultural College of West Virginia, the name of the school was changed to West Virginia University in 1868.

Academics

West Virginia University's academic calendar follows the semester format, with fall, spring and summer "terms."

Colleges and Schools

West Virginia University has 13 colleges and schools:

  • Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design
  • Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
  • College of Business and Economics
  • College of Creative Arts
  • School of Dentistry
  • College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
  • College of Human Resources and Education
  • Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism
  • College of Law
  • School of Medicine
  • School of Nursing
  • School of Pharmacy
  • College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences

Student Life

WVU has hundreds of student clubs and organizations available, along with numerous chapters of fraternities and sororities. There are also many programs and activities in intramural sports, academics, volunteer and community service, government and leadership.  Students may also establish their own group on campus, if they don't find an established group that reflects their particular interests.

There are many music events to enjoy, along with other recreation activities, including a Mountaineer Adventure Program that provides students the opportunity to enjoy outdoor adventure sports.

There are both co-ed and single-gender housing options offered on campus, along with numerous dining services.  Health and wellness services are available, including fitness facilities.

Athletics

The WVU "Mountaineers" athletics teams compete in many intercollegiate sports, and the "Mountaineer Maniacs" student cheer group helps to cheer on the 60,000 Mountaineer fans that attend the school's popular sporting events.

Men's Sports:

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Rifle
  • Soccer
  • Swimming and Diving
  • Wrestling

Women's Sports:

  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Gymnastics
  • Rifle
  • Rowing
  • Soccer
  • Swimming and Diving
  • Tennis
  • Indoor Track/Outdoor Track
  • Volleyball

Satellite Campuses

In addition to its main campus in Morgantown, WVU also has two divisions located in other cities in West Virginia:

  • Potomac State College of WVU (Keyser, West Virginia)
  • WVU Institute of Technology (Montgomery, West Virginia)

Community Life

Morgantown, West Virginia is designated as a top "Small City in America" or "Best Small City" by many national publications.  The town is situated in the beautiful hills of West Virginia, with easy access to skiing and snowboarding, hiking, rock climbing and other outdoor activities.

Enrollment

26,864

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

MU, a public institution, offers a variety of program options, allowing students to choose which major is right for them. Located in Huntington, West Virginia, the campus offers an urban setting for students to study in. MU has an annual student enrollment of about 14,000. Here is a list of some of the popular programs MU offers:

  • Liberal Arts And Sciences
  • Business And Marketing Studies
  • Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Health And Clinical Professions
  • Psychology
Students applying for admission are generally required to submit an application, school records, test scores and any requested letters of recommendations, which will then be reviewed by admissions staff. Students may submit either the ACT or SAT scores to be considered for admissions to Marshall University. A score in a range of 890 - 1120 on the SAT, or 19 - 24 for the ACT is usually submitted among admitted students. This school has an admissions rate of 81% of which only 85% chose to enroll.  A full suite of admissions information can be obtained by calling MU or by requesting information from this page. The tuition at this school varies based on the state of residence of the student. In-state residents pay around $6,200 per year and out-of-state residents are charged $15,000 per year. The price of on-campus housing is around $5,300 annually. This school may provide financial aid for students who qualify as grants and loans. The Marshall University Thundering Herd participate in several intercollegiate athletic programs, overseen by the NCAA. Athletic programs available may include the following:
  • Baseball (NCAA Division I-A)
  • Basketball (NCAA Division I-A)
  • Track & Field (NCAA Division I-A)
  • Football (NCAA Division I-A)
Students who would like to see more about MU can check out their website at marshall.edu/.

Enrollment

13,204

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

Shepherd University provides a variety of program options for students to assist them in their growth and development. The school is located in Shepherdstown, WV and publically funded. Enrollment at Shepherd University exceeds four thousand per year.

Areas of study available at Shepherd University include but are not limited to:

  • Liberal Arts And Sciences
  • Business And Marketing Studies
  • Education
  • Recreation And Fitness Studies
  • Health And Clinical Professions
  • Visual And Performing Arts

Students applying for admission are most often asked to submit an application, transcripts, records, standardized test scores and any requested letters of recommendations, which will then be reviewed by the admissions committee. The most common exam scores among students admitted to this school are between 19 to 24 for the ACT exam, or 910 to 1110 on the SAT. 88% of applicants are admitted to Shepherd University, of which 43% choose to enroll. More information on admissions can be found here.

The cost of undergraduate tuition varies for in-state and nonresidents. In-state residents pay around $6,100 and nonresidents pay $16,000 annually. The price of on-campus housing is approximately $4,900 annually. This school may provide financial aid for students that are eligible in the form of grants and loans.

The Shepherd University Rams participate in several athletic programs, overseen by the NCAA. Available athletic programs offered may include:

  • Baseball (NCAA Division II)
  • Basketball (NCAA Division II)
  • Football (NCAA Division II)
  • Golf (NCAA Division II)

Enrollment

3,648

Student to Faculty Ratio

16:1

West Liberty University provides a variety of degree programs for students to aid them in their growth and development. The school is located in West Liberty, West Virginia and publically funded. Approximately two thousand students are enrolled per year at West Liberty University. A list of some of the more popular programs offered are:

  • Business And Marketing Studies
  • Education
  • Liberal Arts And Sciences
  • Health And Clinical Professions
  • Security And Protective Services
The admissions process will begin with the submission of an application, school records, and test scores, which are then reviewed by the admissions office. Students may submit either the SAT or ACT scores to be considered for admissions to this school. A score in a range of 1220 - 1540 on the SAT, or 18 - 23 for the ACT is common among admitted students. 75% of those students that apply are admitted to West Liberty University, of which 41% choose to enroll. More information from the admissions office can be found here. The cost of tuition varies for in-state and out-of-state residents. In-state residents pay nearly $5,800, while nonresidents pay $14,000 annually. Housing is available for students, which costs around $3,700 each year. Students attending West Liberty University may be eligible for aid which is usually scholarships, grants, and loans. Athletic programs are available at West Liberty University through the NCAA, allowing students to compete in intercollegiate sports. Available sports offered may include the following:
  • Baseball (NCAA Division II)
  • Basketball (NCAA Division II)
  • Football (NCAA Division II)
For a complete list of areas of study, programs, enrollment information, student services, and more, please take a look at the school's website at https://westliberty.edu.

Enrollment

2,526

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Fairmont State is a public institution located in Fairmont, West Virginia and provides a large number of educational opportunities for students. Enrollment at Fairmont State is nearly four thousand yearly.

Students may select from many areas of study, including but not limited to:

  • Business And Marketing Studies
  • Health And Clinical Professions
  • Security And Protective Services
  • Education
  • Liberal Arts And Sciences

Students applying for admission are generally required to submit an application, school records, test scores and any requested personal statements, which will then be reviewed by the school. The most common exam scores among students admitted to Fairmont State University are within the range of 18 - 23 on the ACT, or 820 - 1030 for the SAT exam. This school has an admissions rate of about 57 percent of which only 41 percent chose to enroll.

The cost of tuition varies for in-state and out-of-state residents. In-state residents pay around $5,900, while out-of-state residents pay $12,000 for the year. Student housing is available on-campus for students. The yearly cost of housing is about $3,800. Some students at this school may be eligible for financial aid, which is typically provided as grants or student loans.

The Fairmont State University "Falcons" have a number of intercollegiate athletic programs through participation in the NCAA. Athletic programs available may include:

  • Baseball (NCAA Division II)
  • Basketball (NCAA Division II)
  • Football (NCAA Division II)
  • Golf (NCAA Division II)

Contact information, admission forms, areas of study offered, and much more can be accessed on school's website at http://www.fairmontstate.edu/.

Enrollment

3,947

Student to Faculty Ratio

16:1

Concord University is a public university that has a large selection of programs available for students to choose from. The school is located in Athens, WV, in a predominantly rural area. Enrollment at Concord University exceeds two thousand yearly.

Students may select from several areas of study, including:

  • Business And Marketing Studies
  • Liberal Arts And Sciences
  • Education
  • Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Public Administration And Social Services
  • History

The admissions process begins with the submission of an application, school records, and standardized test scores, which are then evaluated by the admissions staff. Most students accepted to this school achieve an SAT score in a range of 1082 to 1802, or an ACT composite score within the range of 17 to 27. This school admits around 50% of students applying yearly. Of those applicants accepted, about 48% enrolled. More information regarding admissions can be found at concord.edu.

The cost of undergraduate tuition is different for in-state and nonresidents. In-state residents pay close to $6,000, while out-of-state residents pay $13,000 for the year. The cost of on-campus housing is estimated to be $4,100 annually. Some students at this school may qualify for financial aid, which is typically provided in the form of loans, grants, scholarships and work study programs.

Athletic programs are available at Concord University through the NCAA, allowing students to participate in intercollegiate sports. Available athletic programs offered may include the following:

  • Baseball (NCAA Division II)
  • Basketball (NCAA Division II)
  • Track & Field (NCAA Division II)
  • Football (NCAA Division II)
  • Golf (NCAA Division II)

To see a full list of academic programs offered, enrollment information, admissions information, and more, please visit the school's website at http://www.concord.edu.

Enrollment

2,040

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

Glenville State College is a public institution located in Glenville, West Virginia and provides a large number of program options for students. Approximately a thousand students are enrolled per year at Glenville State College.

Areas of study offered at Glenville State College include but are not limited to:

  • Education
  • Social Sciences
  • Business And Marketing Studies
  • Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Liberal Arts And Sciences

To be considered for admissions, students may be asked to complete an application, write a personal statement, and submit test scores or other school records, which are then evaluated by the admissions office. Most common exam scores among students accepted to Glenville State College are within the range of 16 - 21 on the ACT, or 700 - 880 on the SAT. This school accepts around 80 percent of applicants annually. Of those accepted, around 35 percent attended the school. More information from the admissions office can be found at glenville.edu.

The tuition at this school varies based on the state of residence of the student. In-state residents pay around $5,900 per year and out-of-state residents are charged $14,000 per year. School housing is available on-campus for students. The yearly cost of housing is about $5,000. Glenville State College may provide financial aid for students who qualify by way of scholarships, grants, and loans.

The Glenville State College Pioneers participate in several intercollegiate athletic programs, within the NCAA organization. Sports available may include the following:

  • Basketball (NCAA Division II)
  • Track & Field (NCAA Division II)
  • Football (NCAA Division II)
  • Golf (NCAA Division II)

Students who would like to view more about Glenville State College may take a look at their website at http://www.glenville.edu.

Enrollment

1,586

Student to Faculty Ratio

17:1

WVSU is a public historically black institution located in Institute, WV. Many historically black colleges and universities (also known as HBCUs) were founded after the civil war to provide newly freed African Americans with educational opportunities. As a land grant institution this school is among larger public institutions in the state of West Virginia. Enrollment at West Virginia State University is nearly 3,200 per year. Here is a list of some of the popular programs West Virginia State University offers:

  • Liberal Arts And Sciences
  • Business And Marketing Studies
  • Communications And Journalism
  • Psychology
  • Health And Clinical Professions
Students applying for admission are generally asked to submit an application, transcripts, records, standardized test scores and any requested letters of recommendations, which will then be reviewed by admissions staff. The majority of students admitted to this school earn an SAT score in a range of 755 to 950, or an ACT score between 17 to 22. More information on admissions can be found at wvstateu.edu. The cost of undergraduate tuition is close to $5,400, but may change from year to year. Students are encouraged to use the school's price of attendance calculator to better estimate their personal tuition costs. Housing is available on-campus for students. The annual cost of housing is about $3,400. Students enrolled at this school may qualify for aid which is typically loans, grants, scholarships and work study programs. The West Virginia State University "Yellow Jackets" have a number of intercollegiate athletic programs through participation in the NCAA. Available sports offered may include:
  • Baseball (NCAA Division II)
  • Basketball (NCAA Division II)
  • Football (NCAA Division II)
  • Golf (NCAA Division II)
  • Softball (NCAA Division II)
Contact information, tuition information, areas of study offered, and much more can be accessed on school's website at http://www.wvstateu.edu.

Enrollment

3,692

Student to Faculty Ratio

19:1

Bluefield State College is a public historically black institution located in Bluefield, WV. Many historically black colleges and universities (also known as HBCUs) were established after the civil war to provide newly freed African Americans with educational opportunities. Bluefield State College has a yearly student enrollment of about two thousand.

Students may pick from several areas of study, including:

  • General Studies
  • Nursing
  • Elementary Education
  • Business Administration

The admissions process begins with the submission of an application, school records, and standardized test scores, which are then evaluated by the admissions office. The most common exam scores among students admitted to Bluefield State College are in the range of 17 - 22 for the ACT exam, or 843 - 1080 on the SAT. This school has an admissions rate of around 69 percent of which only 79 percent decided to enroll. More information regarding admissions can be found here.

The cost of undergraduate tuition is different for in-state and nonresidents. In-state residents pay close to $5,400, while out-of-state residents pay $10,000 for the year. Students attending Bluefield State College may be eligible for aid which is generally scholarships, grants, and loans.

The mascot for Bluefield State College is the "Big Blues", and they participate in intercollegiate athletics through the oversight and organization of the NCAA. Athletic programs available:

  • Baseball (NCAA Division II)
  • Basketball (NCAA Division II)
  • Golf (NCAA Division II)
  • Softball (NCAA Division II)
  • Tennis (NCAA Division II)

Students can visit the school's http://www.bluefieldstate.edu to see additional information.

Enrollment

1,275

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

West Virginia University Institute of Technology provides a variety of program options for students to assist them in their growth and development. The school is located in Montgomery, West Virginia and publically funded. Enrollment at West Virginia University Institute of Technology is nearly a thousand annually.

Students can select from a few areas of study, including:

  • Liberal Arts And Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Engineering Technology
  • Business And Marketing Studies

To be considered for admissions, you may be asked to complete an application, provide letters of recommendations, and submit high school records and test scores, which are then reviewed by admissions officials. An ACT or SAT exam may be required prior to applying, with scores in a range of 810 - 1090 on the SAT and between 18 - 23 for the ACT exam is typical among students admitted to West Virginia University Institute of Technology. This school has an admissions rate of about 52 percent of which only 63 percent chose to enroll. More information regarding admissions can be found at admissions.wvutech.edu.

Tuition & fees at West Virginia University Institute of Technology are different for in-state and out-of-state residents. In-state tuition costs approximately $5,900 per year with out-of-state tuition costing $15,000 annually. The cost of on-campus housing is estimated to be $4,400 annually. Some students at this school may be eligible for financial aid, which is typically provided in the form of loans, grants, scholarships and work study programs.

This school has a variety of athletic programs overseen by the NAIA. Athletic programs that are available may include:

  • Baseball (NAIA Division I)
  • Basketball (NAIA Division I)
  • Football (NAIA Division I)

Students can take a look at the school's http://www.wvutech.edu to see additional information.

Enrollment

1,755

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Degree Programs at West Virginia State Universities

With approximately 2 million residents, the employment diversity in West Virginia is as diverse as the geography that surrounds it. State universities offer an array of majors to support a growing economic base. In fact, students can elect to study traditional degree pathways or growing fields of study dependent upon what motivates them most. Traditional degree options includehistory,accounting,engineering,biology,business, andteaching. On the other hand, emerging areas of study gaining prominence in the academia arena include fields likedata modeling,robotics,sustainability studies,toxicology,cytotechnology,immunology,hydrology,gerontology, andcomputer engineering. In both cases, you can use a bachelors degree in one field to expand your skills in an adjacent area of study. Meaning, if you earn an undergraduate degree inmathit can be used to step into a masters degree incomputer scienceoractuarial sciencejust as an undergraduate degree inengineeringcan be leveraged to earn a graduate degree inaeronautical engineeringorlaw.

-2

The 4 schools listed below are part of the -2 system. By following the links below, you can view each school's profile in detail.

Institution Name Number Students Information Virtual Tour
Davis & Elkins College in Athens, WV1,000 to 4,999info
Huntington Junior College in Glenville, WV1,000 to 4,999info
Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Parkersburg, WV1,000 to 4,999info
West Virginia University Institute of Technology in West Liberty, WV1,000 to 4,999info

West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission

The 5 schools listed below are part of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission system. By following the links below, you can view each school's profile in detail.

Institution Name Number Students Information Virtual Tour
Glenville State College in Fairmont, WV1,000 to 4,999info
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College in Shepherdstown, WV1,000 to 4,999info
West Virginia State University in Lewisburg, WVLess Than 1,000info
West Virginia Wesleyan College in Beckley, WV1,000 to 4,999info
Wheeling Jesuit University in Morgantown, WVMore Than 20,000info

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 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

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