In order to provide prospective students with the best chance at having a great education, we have compiled this list of the top universities and colleges in West Virginia. Some schools may excel at online programs while others may focus exclusively on the traditional, on-campus aspect of higher education. Regardless of the delivery format, these schools excel at providing a quality education for their students.
Graduate and postgraduate education have risen in attendance from students in recent years. Working full-time employees and stay-at-home parents may consider continuing their studies through some of the greatest colleges in West Virginia. The most outstanding excellent online and on-campus colleges in West Virginia feature some of the best associate, bachelor, master and doctorate degrees.
West Virginia promotes many different initiatives to entice students to consider online learning. West Virginia is also a member of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Academic Common Market, which permits students in the Southeast to earn in-state tuition in West Virginia. As a result, many online colleges in West Virginia are highly accessible and up-to-date. The state is also a participant in the Electronic Campus system, which adds programs across universities to offer over 37,000 online courses and 3,400 total degree programs for students. West Virginia’s demonstrated commitment to making distance learning more accessible and technologically innovative makes online college a worthwhile investment for many.
Online degrees in West Virginia provide the same level of quality as in the classroom. As part of our list, we look at the quality of the program, graduation rate, job placement, and tuition costs. The graduation rate is the student’s ability graduate within four years of starting school. Each of these qualities helps determine how well a student will succeed by enrolling in a West Virginia college in the U.S.
Here are the Best Colleges in West Virginia
1. Wheeling University
With a higher graduation rate than most and an affordable tuition cost, Wheeling University is one of the greatest online colleges in West Virginia. It offers seven unique online programs for its students. Those programs include Master’s of Business Administration (MBA), Master’s in Education Leadership (MEL), and RN to BSN/MSN. Most of the online programs are intended for graduate and postgraduate students. There is an Accelerated Certification for Teaching available along with a Superintendent Licensure.
Wheeling University is a Catholic university that began in Wheeling in 1954. The school has around 1400 students that represent most states and more than 20 countries from around the world.
- Graduation Rate: 61 percent
- Number of Online Programs: 7
- Tuition Cost: $18,744/yr
2. West Virginia University
With just, a slightly lower graduation rate than its predecessor, West Virginia University boasts over 100 online classes for its students. A very affordable tuition makes it a top pick for one of the greatest online colleges in West Virginia. Not to mention, WVU has over 30 fully online programs available for students. The list includes undergraduate and graduate programs. Graduate degree offerings include a Ph.D. and Master’s programs in special education, sports management, software engineering, social work, nursing, communications, and more.
Located in Morgantown, West Virginia University is a public university that began in 1867. It has around 31,000 students enrolled at a time. As much as 50 percent of the students enrolled in the college hail from West Virginia themselves, representing all 55 counties.
- Graduation Rate: 56 percent
- Number of Online Programs: 35
- Tuition Cost: $10,405/yr
3. University of Charleston
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The University of Charleston offers a range of graduate programs as well as doctorates of pharmacy and executive leadership. UC’s master’s programs include physician’s assistant, strategic leadership, business administration, and forensic accounting. The school is well known for the following popular undergraduate programs that include: Nursing, Business, Education, Biology, Pre-med, and Pre-pharmacy. UC has a 90 percent career placement rate within six months of graduation and is friendly to military members.
The University of Charleston is in Charleston on the Kanawha River. The school educates around 2,400 students each fall. The student to teacher ratio is 14:1 with international students from over 40 countries. UC began in 1888.
- Graduation Rate: 41 percent
- Number of Online Programs: 11
- Tuition Cost: $18,799/yr
4. Marshall University
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With an inexpensive education, Marshall University offers a plethora of degree programs including associate, baccalaureate, master’s, first professional and doctoral degrees. It also provides a range of certificate programs and has more than 100 different courses that are also available online. Some of the programs include advertising and public relations, Accounting, Biochemistry, Computer science, Economics, Education, Journalism and mass communications, Medical Imaging, Nursing, Physics, and Sports Management.
Marshall University is in downtown Huntington. MU has additional campuses in South Charleston, Point Pleasant, Teays Valley, and Beckley. The school began in 1837 and now has on average 13,600 students.
- Graduation Rate: 44 percent
- Number of Online Programs: 30
- Tuition Cost: $9,240/yr
5. West Virginia University at Parkersburg
West Virginia University at Parkersburg is among the greatest online colleges in West Virginia thanks to its cheap tuition and selection of undergraduate and associate degrees. Bachelor’s degrees are available in nursing and child development. Students have the chance to earn a certificate or associate degree in business, criminal justice, and technology. Although WVU-Parkersburg now grants bachelor degrees, it still maintains the services and the feeling of a small school. The university began with as a community college. WVU-Parkersburg is the largest community college in the state and among the largest public universities in the country.
WVU-Parkersburg is a public school. It is a stand-alone college with its board of governors and degree-granting authority, separate from West Virginia University.
- Graduation Rate: 26 percent
- Number of Online Programs: 7
- Tuition Cost: $2,436/semester
6. Ohio Valley University
Ohio Valley University offers certificates as well as bachelor’s degrees in the areas of business, education, art, science, behavioral sciences and biblical studies. OVU students may choose to take individual classes online using Sakai 11 an online learning platform that is accessible through the school’s website.
Ohio Valley University is an accredited Christian faith institute that associates itself with the church of Christ. OVU began in 1958 and is a private liberal arts university located in Vienna by the Ohio River.
- Graduation Rate: 44 percent
- Number of Online Programs: 23
- Tuition Cost: $16,588/yr
7. Fairmont State University
Fairmont State University is for graduate and undergraduate students. The school offers bachelor and master degree programs in six separate schools including liberal arts, education, and nursing. A majority of the programs offer courses through the distance learning initiative. That includes both graduate and undergraduate courses, and many master’s degrees are available in an online-only format.
Fairmont State University is a public university set in the city of Fairmont. It was built in 1865 and sits on a 120-acre campus. The student body has on average 4,200 students enrolled.
- Graduation Rate: 34 percent
- Number of Online Programs: 3
- Tuition Cost: $8,897/yr
8. Concord University
Concord University offers all master degree programs entirely online as well as many undergraduate courses. This University also provides online courses through its Information Technology department. It has a 67 percent retention rate for freshman and a graduation rate of 34 percent. The school has made an effort to provide online coursework with numerous classes offered in an online format.
Located in Athens, CU is a liberal arts college that began in 1872. After a fire, it moved to Mercer County. The school has about 2400 undergraduates and graduates per semester.
- Graduation Rate: 34 percent
- Number of Online Programs: 3
- Tuition Cost: $7,210/yr
9. Alderson Broaddus University
Alderson Broaddus University (AB) has over 70 academic areas of study and permits students to finish a degree completion and master’s degree program entirely online in as little as one year. Online class times vary and have options in accelerated or full semester time frames. Distance learning programs are available for Teacher Leader (M.Ed.), RN-BSN, and School Health Nursing.
Alderson Broaddus University is in Philippi near the Tygart River Valley. AB was founded in 1871 as an independent institution of higher learning, committed to serving the region as an academic, cultural, and religious resource, with programs based on a liberal arts foundation. The University is rooted in historic and continuing relationships with the American Baptist Churches USA and the West Virginia Baptist Convention.
Today, AB maintains five colleges: The College of Business; The College of Education; The College of Health, Science, Technology, and Mathematics; The College of Humanities and Social Sciences; and, The College of Medical Science.
- Graduation Rate: 55 percent (5-year average)
- Number of Online Programs: 3
- Undergraduate Tuition Cost: $29,000/yr
10. West Virginia State University
At West Virginia State University there are five undergraduate programs and one graduate program. The bachelor programs include a B.S. in accounting, management, criminal justice, and a B.A. in technical writing. The M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership is the only online graduate program. The degree programs are in real-world fields like business, criminal justice, and technology literature to provide students with the skills they need to succeed. WVSU Online evaluates potential transfer credits upon receipt of official transcripts.
West Virginia State University is in Charleston. The university provides a campus home to more than 3,500 students each semester at WVSU. The school, itself, started in 1891 and features a student to faculty ratio of 17:1.
- Graduation Rate: 21.3 percent
- Number of Online Programs: 6
- Tuition Cost: $7,690/yr
11. Bluefield State College
Bluefield State College offers a significant number of online courses and degree programs, including a two plus two program in imaging sciences. The school offers online courses in asynchronous and synchronous formats.
Bluefield State College, public, a non-residential four-year college founded in 1895, enrolls more than 2,000 students.
- Graduation Rate: 34 percent
- Number of Online Programs: 12
- Tuition Cost: $5,832/yr
12. Glenville State College
Glenville State College has since grown to include associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in other fields like business, music and criminal justice. Their programs are set up to allow students to complete degrees in two or four years with on-campus and online courses. GSC offers a variety of online degree programs. These programs are great for traditional or nontraditional students who desire a flexible academic schedule. Students enrolled in a fully online program at GSC also have access to an online advisor.
Glenville State College began in 1872. GSC started as a teaching college. GSC is a public four-year school in Glenville, a town in the rural part of West Virginia.
- Graduation Rate: 32 percent
- Number of Online Programs: 3
- Tuition Cost: $6,696/yr
Research Method
The list draws from the greatest colleges around West Virginia. The combination of tuition cost, number of online programs, graduation rate, and overall quality of program based on student feedback determines each school’s evaluation and rank. For more details, visit our methodology page.
We invite schools featured on our list or not highlighted to reach out for possible inclusion in an updated version of our greatest colleges in West Virginia. We’re constantly looking to recognize top-tier institutions.
