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
Wheeling University offers 34 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 176 students graduated with students earning 100 Bachelor's degrees, 35 Master's degrees, 29 Doctoral degrees, and 12 Certificates.
West Virginia University offers 245 degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 6,361 students graduated with students earning 4,277 Bachelor's degrees, 1,490 Master's degrees, and 594 Doctoral degrees.
West Liberty University offers 37 degree programs. It's a small, public, four-year university in a outlying rural area. In 2022, 604 students graduated with students earning 412 Bachelor's degrees, 164 Master's degrees, and 28 Associate's degrees.
Bethany College offers 32 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a outlying rural area. In 2022, 75 students graduated with students earning 75 Bachelor's degrees.
Davis & Elkins College offers 42 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a remote town. In 2022, 136 students graduated with students earning 111 Bachelor's degrees, and 25 Associate's degrees.
Valley College-Martinsburg offers 22 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2022, 368 students graduated with students earning 225 Certificates, 99 Associate's degrees, and 44 Bachelor's degrees.
Appalachian Bible College offers 5 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a outlying rural area. In 2022, 33 students graduated with students earning 20 Bachelor's degrees, 7 Certificates, 5 Associate's degrees, and 1 Master's degree.
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 2022, 239 students graduated with students earning 202 Bachelor's degrees, and 37 Master's degrees.
Alderson Broaddus University offers 42 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a faraway town. In 2022, 151 students graduated with students earning 105 Bachelor's degrees, 42 Master's degrees, and 4 Associate's degrees.
Marshall University offers 210 degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 2,507 students graduated with students earning 1,330 Bachelor's degrees, 699 Master's degrees, 219 Doctoral degrees, 138 Associate's degrees, and 121 Certificates.
Best Community Colleges in West Virginia
Carver Career Center offers 7 degree programs. It's a very small, public, two-year college in a midsize suburb. In 2022, 97 students graduated with students earning 84 Certificates, and 13 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 2022, 9 students graduated with students earning 9 Associate's degrees.
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 2022, 88 students graduated with students earning 79 Associate's degrees, and 9 Certificates.
West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown offers 30 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a small city. In 2022, 307 students graduated with students earning 291 Associate's degrees, and 16 Certificates.
Martinsburg College offers 52 degree programs. It's a small, private for-profit, two-year college in a midsize suburb. In 2022, 139 students graduated with students earning 113 Certificates, and 26 Associate's degrees.
West Virginia Junior College-Bridgeport offers 10 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a faraway town. In 2022, 73 students graduated with students earning 56 Associate's degrees, and 17 Certificates.
New River Community and Technical College offers 94 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a small suburb. In 2022, 254 students graduated with students earning 164 Associate's degrees, and 90 Certificates.
Pierpont Community and Technical College offers 62 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a faraway town. In 2022, 419 students graduated with students earning 363 Associate's degrees, and 56 Certificates.
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College offers 42 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a faraway town. In 2022, 402 students graduated with students earning 250 Associate's degrees, and 152 Certificates.
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College offers 123 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a outlying rural area. In 2022, 583 students graduated with students earning 361 Associate's degrees, and 222 Certificates.
Top schools offering specific degrees in West Virginia
List of all colleges in West Virginia
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Carver Career Center Charleston, WV | 14 : 1 | 155 | |
|
International Beauty School 4 Martinsburg, WV | 79 | ||
|
Wheeling University Wheeling, WV | 23 : 1 | 749 | |
|
|
Fred W Eberle Technical Center Buckhannon, WV | 86 | ||
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West Virginia University Morgantown, WV | 22 : 1 | 24,741 | |