Best colleges in West Virginia
The Mountain State Has Many Peaks — and Perks
Come for education, stay for a career and the culture
Why not go somewhere you can scale a mountain while you’re making your way up to higher education? West Virginia is home to 43 colleges and universities that focus on research, medicine, and more. And if you’re interested in aerospace, biometrics, advanced energy, or chemicals and plastics, West Virginia has a thriving market for you to gain real-world work experience. Post-graduation, you won’t want to go anywhere. The unemployment rate is holding steady with the rest of the country,* and West Virginia is on USA Today’s 10 States With the Fastest Growing Economies list.
You’ll also want to stick around for the experiences you can’t get anywhere else. Known as the Mountain State, West Virginia is home to part of the Appalachian Mountains, which means you can take advantage of 800 miles of hiking, biking, rock climbing, and caving. There’s even more to see outside with forest covering 78% of the state.* West Virginia even has history etched into its land — with prehistoric burial mounds, oil and gas landmarks, and civil war monuments. Don’t just go to school in West Virginia, experience a new way of life.
Click Here to See the Best Colleges in the US*Bureau of Labor Statistics *wvcommerce.orgBest Four Year Universities in West Virginia
Appalachian Bible College offers 5 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2023, 60 students graduated with students earning 38 Bachelor's degrees, 13 Certificates, 5 Associate's degrees, and 4 Master's degrees.
West Virginia University offers 251 degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2023, 6,274 students graduated with students earning 4,230 Bachelor's degrees, 1,440 Master's degrees, and 604 Doctoral degrees.
West Liberty University offers 41 degree programs. It's a small, public, four-year university in a outlying rural area. In 2023, 543 students graduated with students earning 365 Bachelor's degrees, 144 Master's degrees, and 34 Associate's degrees.
Bethany College offers 27 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a outlying rural area. In 2023, 111 students graduated with students earning 102 Bachelor's degrees, and 9 Master's degrees.
Marshall University offers 179 degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2023, 2,609 students graduated with students earning 1,416 Bachelor's degrees, 686 Master's degrees, 233 Doctoral degrees, 147 Certificates, and 127 Associate's degrees.
Davis & Elkins College offers 45 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a remote town. In 2023, 153 students graduated with students earning 133 Bachelor's degrees, and 20 Associate's degrees.
West Virginia Wesleyan College offers 76 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a remote town. In 2023, 244 students graduated with students earning 194 Bachelor's degrees, 46 Master's degrees, and 4 Doctoral degrees.
West Virginia University Institute of Technology offers 29 degree programs. It's a small, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2023, 163 students graduated with students earning 163 Bachelor's degrees.
Shepherd University offers 58 degree programs. It's a small, public, four-year university in a outlying rural area. In 2023, 584 students graduated with students earning 506 Bachelor's degrees, 62 Master's degrees, 14 Doctoral degrees, and 2 Certificates.
University of Charleston offers 49 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2023, 984 students graduated with students earning 570 Bachelor's degrees, 201 Master's degrees, 145 Associate's degrees, and 68 Doctoral degrees.
Best Community Colleges in West Virginia
Carver Career Center offers 8 degree programs. It's a very small, public, two-year college in a midsize suburb. In 2023, 108 students graduated with students earning 108 Certificates.
West Virginia Junior College-Charleston offers 10 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a midsize suburb. In 2023, 113 students graduated with students earning 88 Associate's degrees, and 25 Certificates.
Martinsburg College offers 52 degree programs. It's a small, private for-profit, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2023, 425 students graduated with students earning 396 Certificates, and 29 Associate's degrees.
Mountain State College offers 2 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a small city. In 2023, 3 students graduated with students earning 3 Associate's degrees.
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College offers 124 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a outlying rural area. In 2023, 556 students graduated with students earning 342 Associate's degrees, and 214 Certificates.
West Virginia Junior College-Bridgeport offers 9 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a faraway town. In 2023, 61 students graduated with students earning 41 Associate's degrees, and 20 Certificates.
New River Community and Technical College offers 95 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a outlying rural area. In 2023, 279 students graduated with students earning 148 Associate's degrees, and 131 Certificates.
Pierpont Community and Technical College offers 65 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a faraway town. In 2023, 413 students graduated with students earning 341 Associate's degrees, and 72 Certificates.
West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown offers 39 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2023, 303 students graduated with students earning 274 Associate's degrees, and 29 Certificates.
Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College offers 41 degree programs. It's a very small, public, two-year college in a remote rural area. In 2023, 55 students graduated with students earning 42 Associate's degrees, and 13 Certificates.
Top schools offering specific degrees in West Virginia
List of all colleges in West Virginia
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Appalachian Bible College Mount Hope, WV | 14 : 1 | 218 | |
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West Virginia University Morgantown, WV | 22 : 1 | 24,200 | |
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Roane-Jackson Technical Center Leroy, WV | 11 | ||
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Fred W Eberle Technical Center Buckhannon, WV | 119 | ||
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International Beauty School 4 Martinsburg, WV | 86 | ||