Top Colleges in West Virginia
West Virginia has a 4.3% unemployment rate (as of February 2024), which is about half the rate at the height of the 2009 Recession. Improving economic conditions support job growth in the state’s largest employment sectors, which include office and administrative support, healthcare, and food preparation industry. On average, professions in these fields pay roughly $30,000-$80,000 per year, and managers often earn considerably more. To enter one of these careers, you typically need a college education. Fortunately, West Virginia boasts many excellent and affordable colleges and universities.
This ranking spotlights the best colleges and universities in West Virginia — a valuable resource for potential students. You can learn about each institution’s popular academic programs, student support services, and application requirements. You can also use the embedded links to visit a school’s website, where you can find the contact information for admission and financial aid counselors who can answer any questions you may have.
Best Colleges in West Virginia
- In-State$9,360
- Out-of-state$26,568
- In-State$10,602
- Out-of-state$27,450
- Retention Rate79%
- Acceptance Rate88%
- Students Enrolled24,741
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment53%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$8,604
- Out-of-state$19,658
- In-State$7,520
- Out-of-state$20,072
- Retention Rate74%
- Acceptance Rate97%
- Students Enrolled10,835
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment54%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$6,288
- Out-of-state$15,774
- In-State$8,280
- Out-of-state$11,484
- Retention Rate70%
- Acceptance Rate96%
- Students Enrolled3,235
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment64%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$8,716
- Out-of-state$17,100
- In-State$7,080
- Out-of-state$8,280
- Retention Rate63%
- Acceptance Rate74%
- Students Enrolled2,315
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment45%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$31,698
- Out-of-state$31,698
- In-State$11,128
- Out-of-state$11,128
- Retention Rate67%
- Acceptance Rate96%
- Students Enrolled951
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment29%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$29,090
- Out-of-state$29,090
- In-State$9,900
- Out-of-state$9,900
- Retention Rate72%
- Acceptance Rate73%
- Students Enrolled749
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment61%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$6,022
- Out-of-state$15,638
- In-State$7,474
- Out-of-state$18,054
- Retention Rate63%
- Acceptance Rate98%
- Students Enrolled3,498
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment70%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$29,880
- Out-of-state$29,880
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance Rate75%
- Students Enrolled650
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment2%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$21,000
- Out-of-state$21,000
- In-State$16,400
- Out-of-state$16,400
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance Rate68%
- Students Enrolled3,059
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment78%
- AccreditationYes
How We Rank Schools
At BestColleges, we believe a college education is one of the most important investments you can make. We help you navigate the college selection process by offering transparent, inclusive, and relevant school rankings.
We use datasets from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools and our methodologies. This ranking is from 2021. To learn more, check out our full ranking methodologies.
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