Best Colleges in West Virginia (2023 Rankings)

West Virginia is home to plenty of great universities, from large public four-year colleges to small private schools. Whether you're preparing to graduate high school or are considering going after your graduate degree, check out our rankings (in no particular order) for the best colleges in the Mountain State!

West Virginia University, Morgantown

In-state tuition: $8,976

Out-of-state tuition: $25,320

Fast facts:

• 20,495 undergraduate students
• 84% acceptance rate
• 41% (4-year) and 62% (6-year) graduation rates

West Virginia University-Morgantown (WVU) is a large public university with several extension campuses throughout the state. Whether you're interested in earning a bachelor's degree or pursuing one of over 240 graduate programs, WVU has got you covered with 355 different majors.

Explore undergraduate majors ranging from Agriculture to Aerospace Engineering. Or check out WVU's impressively diverse minors like Addiction Studies, Esports Management, or Wildlife and Fisheries Resources.

Students on the hunt for a great graduate school will find that WVU also offers a great selection of master's, doctoral, and professional degrees. Get involved with one of over 450 student organizations, cheer on the Mountaineers at a home game, or make a new discovery at WVU's R1-ranked research facilities.

You might also like: West Virginia University at Parkersburg or Keyser

West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon

Tuition: $32,252

Fast facts:

• 979 undergraduate students
• 66% acceptance rate
• 47% (4-year) and 55% (6-year) graduation rates

Looking for a tight-knit college campus with a welcoming student body? Check out West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC), a private Methodist university in Buckhannon that offers a great liberal arts curriculum.

WVWC offers 50 undergraduate majors and five graduate degree programs in fields like Nursing, Business Administration, and Fine Arts. Check out the school's community engagement opportunities and student organizations, or enjoy the freedom to start a new club of your own!

You might also like: Concord University, Athens

Marshall University, Huntington

In-state tuition: $8,512

Out-of-state tuition: $19,366

Fast facts:

• 8,772 undergraduate students
• 89% acceptance rate
• 29% (4-year) and 50% (6-year) graduation rates

Marshall University is widely known as the home of the Thundering Herd athletics department, whose history inspired the film "We Are Marshall." Matthew McConaughey movie aside, Marshall's got plenty going for it, including a selection of 80 different undergraduate programs, over 50 master's degrees, and a solid range of doctoral programs.

Choose from degree programs in anything from Criminal Justice or Pre-Law to English, Theatre, or Music. With a thriving Greek scene and 230 student organizations, you'll have no problem finding community on campus.

You might also like: West Virginia State University, Institute

Davis & Elkins College, Elkins

Tuition: $29,960

Fast facts:

• 738 undergraduate students
• 69% acceptance rate
• 43% (4-year) and 48% (6-year) graduation rates

Davis & Elkins College (D&E) is a small private Presbyterian college where you'll meet fellow classmates who quickly feel like family. You'll find the college's stunning campus tucked away in the small but artsy mountain town of Elkins, home to a population of roughly 7,000..

Nearly half of all students play for the Senators, the school's 22 Division II athletics teams which are named after the two U.S. Senators who founded the college in the early 1900s: Henry Gassaway Davis and his son-in-law, Stephen Benton Elkins. Enjoy your choice of 45 degree programs including popular choices like Sports Science, Criminology, Creative Arts, and Nursing.

You might also like: Alderson Broaddus University, Philippi  

Appalachian Bible College, Mount Hope

Tuition: $15,536

Fast facts:

• 221 undergraduate students
• 49% acceptance rate
• 52% (4-year) and 44% (6-year) graduation rates

If you're interested in pursuing a career in ministry, then Appalachian Bible College (ABC) is definitely worth looking into. The small accredited Bible college is one of the most affordable in the nation and offers plenty of great financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

Located on a sprawling 150-acre campus in Mount Hope, the college offers a surprisingly wide range of programs, from certificates to associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs. Many undergraduates pursue a double major in Theology and options such as Education, Music, or Biblical Counseling.

You might also like: Wheeling University, Wheeling  

West Liberty University

In-state tuition: $8,150

Out-of-state tuition: $16,090

Fast facts:

• 2,125 undergraduate students
• 68% acceptance rate
• 37% (4-year) and 53% (6-year) graduation rates

First established in 1837, West Liberty University (WLU) boasts the title of the Mountain State's first higher education institution. Today, the public college offers an impressive 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio and more than 70 undergraduate and graduate majors to choose from.

Choose from pre-professional programs like Pre-Law and Pre-Med or check out unique majors like Art Therapy or Zoo Science. You'll also find plenty of ways to get involved on campus, such as Greek life, intramurals, student organizations, and more.

You might also like: Valley College, Beckley

University of Charleston

Tuition: $32,200

Fast facts:

• 2,115 undergraduate students
• 61% acceptance rate
• 37% (4-year) and 46% (6-year) graduation rates

The University of Charleston is a private college that sprawls across a gorgeous waterfront campus directly across the Kanawha River from the West Virginia state capitol building. Home of the Golden Eagles sports teams, UC offers a nice variety of associate, bachelor, and graduate degree programs.

Whether you're interested in health care, computer science, business, or leadership, UC offers an inclusive campus where you'll find something for everyone. The school also has plenty of great benefits, scholarships, and financial aid options - including unique options for veterans and active military service members.

You might also like: West Virginia University Institute of Technology, Beckley

Shepherd University, Shepherdstown

In-state tuition: $7,784

Out-of-state tuition: $18,224

Fast facts:

• 2,716 undergraduate students
• 98% acceptance rate
• 32% (4-year) and 46% (6-year) graduation rates

You'll find Shepherd University, a public liberal arts college, on a gorgeous 323-acre campus overlooking the Potomac River in Shepherdstown. Due to its convenient location right along West Virginia's northeastern border, Shepard is a popular choice for students from surrounding states such as Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.

Shepard understands that no two students are alike and offers a range of 100 different academic choices as well as an exploratory program that allows you to check out different options. Consider enrollment in one of Shepherd's study abroad programs, or take advantage of the many internship opportunities available nearby.

You might also like: Glenville State College, Glenville

Fairmont State University

In-state tuition: $7,738

Out-of-state tuition: $16,814

Fast facts:

• 3,573 undergraduate students
• 94% acceptance rate
• 25% (4-year) and 35% (6-year) graduation rates

Founded in 1865, Fairmont State University is a public college that offers smaller class sizes and other perks usually only found at private universities. With a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio, Fairmont offers students a choice of over 50 degree programs including unique choices like Forensic Science and National Security and Intelligence.

Fairmont State also has a number of great graduate programs, a police academy, and ROTC courses that are available to students at no extra charge. Cheer on the Falcons sports teams, go Greek, or get involved with a student organization dedicated to anything from outdoor adventure to spiritual or cultural affinity.

You might also like: Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College, Moorefield

Bethany College

Tuition: $30,840

Fast facts:

• 569 undergraduate students
• 92% acceptance rate
• 35% (4-year) and 44% (6-year) graduation rates

If you're looking for a classic academia vibe, then check out Bethany College, a Christian liberal arts college founded in 1840. Tucked away on a beautiful 1,300-acre campus in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, the small private school is located in the historic town of Bethany.

Undergraduate students can choose from 24 different areas of study and seven pre-professional programs in fields like law, veterinary medicine, or art therapy. Feel free to round out your major with a minor in anything including British Literature, Botany, Esport Gaming Management, and Zoology.

You might also like: Salem University, Salem

West Virginia colleges FAQ

What is the number one best college in West Virginia?

It depends on what type of school you're looking for! While WVU is the state's largest college and offers the widest range of degree programs, West Virginia is also full of excellent smaller, niche schools.

How many colleges are in West Virginia?

While there are 13 public four-year universities in West Virginia, the state is also home to plenty of excellent private universities, technical colleges, and community colleges.

What are the two biggest colleges in West Virginia?

West Virginia University at Morgantown and Marshall are home to the two largest student populations in West Virginia.

Find the perfect school in West Virginia with College Rover

As you can see, finding the best colleges in West Virginia is all about finding the best colleges for you! At College Rover, we know that no two college experiences are alike.

That's why our user-friendly database has everything you need to research and compare schools and programs across the country. Create custom filters to find the right choice for you in just a few clicks.

College Rover gets the majority of its data directly from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). The DOE publishing schedule "lags" the most current data which some colleges post on their official websites. This may cause there to be a difference in the data you see on College Rover and an individual college website. College Rover's website is updated as the DOE data becomes available and is configured for the College Rover website.