2025 Best Colleges in West Virginia

March 5, 2025

The state of West Virginia may be most famous for the Appalachian Mountains and wide open natural beauty, but there happen to also be some fantastic higher education options there as well. The following list of the best colleges in West Virginia is meant to give you an idea of how to narrow down your search and find the perfect-fit institution to meet your unique needs. The data in each profile card is intended to give a better sense of the academic offerings and outcomes at each institution.

Methodology

Click here to read our methodology for the Best Colleges in West Virginia. As you’ll see, some schools with spectacular (and deserved) reputations simply do not happen to fare well on metrics such as student-to-faculty ratio or spending per student. We understand that a list based solely on prestige/general reputation would look different than what you will find below.

Best Colleges in West Virginia

Here’s a quick preview of the top WV-based institutions that made our list. Detailed profiles and stats can be found when you scroll below.

1) West Virginia University

2) Marshall University

3) West Virginia Wesleyan College

All of the Best Colleges in West Virginia profiled below have a history of sending graduates to the most desirable employers and graduate schools in the country. College Transitions will provide you with—when available—each school’s:

Enrollment
Cost of Attendance
Acceptance Rate
Median SAT
Median ACT
Retention Rate
Graduation Rate

We will also include a longer write-up of each school’s:

Academic Highlights – Includes facts like student-to-faculty ratio, average class size, number of majors offered, and most popular majors.
Professional Outcomes – Includes info on the rate of positive outcomes, companies employing alumni, and graduate school acceptances.

Also view our:

#1 Best College in West Virginia

West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV

Academic Highlights: Students flock to Morgantown to choose from over 300 majors across WVU’s 12 colleges and schools, enjoying an impressive 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The university maintains an exceptional balance in class sizes—44% of sections enroll 19 or fewer students, creating intimate learning environments, while just 16% exceed 50 students. WVU’s Office of Undergraduate Research provides year-round opportunities through faculty mentorship and specialized programs like the Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP). Students showcase their work at three annual Undergraduate Research Symposia and through immersive programs like the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE).

Professional Outcomes: Mountaineers launch careers with top employers, including WVU Medicine, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and global energy leader Aramco. The university’s strong industry connections yield excellent returns, with graduates earning median salaries of $67,800 early in their careers —a figure that grows to $121,800 by mid-career. These outcomes demonstrate WVU’s success in preparing students for high-demand fields, with many alumni securing positions at Fortune 500 companies and premier research institutions.

Enrollment: 18,615
Cost of Attendance: $27,644 (In-State); $45,356 (Out-of-State)
Average SAT: 1120
Median ACT: 23
Acceptance Rate: 86%
Retention Rate: 81%
Graduation Rate: 60%

Marshall University

Huntington, West Virginia

Academic Highlights: Marshall University provides career-focused education through 59 undergraduate degree programs, combining the resources of a comprehensive public university with personalized attention, with a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of 20. The innovative Marshall for All program ensures every student graduates with both a degree and a resume full of relevant experiences. Students enhance their education through global study abroad opportunities (300+ sites in 42 countries) and hands-on research programs like the West Virginia INBRE and American Heart Association initiatives, creating well-prepared professionals ready for West Virginia’s workforce needs.

Professional Outcomes: Marshall graduates make immediate impacts in their communities, with 47% of the Class of 2023 employed at key regional institutions, including multiple county school systems and the WV Department of Health. Another 28% continue their education, primarily at Marshall University. Most alumni choose to build their careers in the Charleston-Huntington area, demonstrating Marshall’s vital role as an economic engine for the Mountain State.

Enrollment: 8,235
Cost of Attendance: $25,294 (In-State); $36,646 (Out-of-State)
Median SAT: 1020
Median ACT: 21
Acceptance Rate: 96%
Retention Rate: 79%
Graduation Rate: 49%

West Virginia Wesleyan College

Buckhannon, West Virginia

Academic Highlights: West Virginia Wesleyan College delivers a transformative liberal arts education focused on personal growth and experiential learning. With a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 50 undergraduate majors complemented by 33 minors, students benefit from individualized mentorship while developing both intellectual and practical skills. This intimate learning environment fosters close faculty-student relationships and ensures each student receives the attention needed to thrive academically and personally.

Professional Outcomes: Wesleyan graduates make meaningful contributions to their communities, with many building careers at leading regional institutions like WVU Medicine and UPMC. While most alumni choose to strengthen West Virginia’s workforce, a significant number also bring their talents to the dynamic Washington DC-Baltimore corridor. These outcomes demonstrate how Wesleyan’s combination of personalized liberal arts education and hands-on learning prepares graduates to succeed both within their home state and in competitive metropolitan job markets.

Enrollment: 938
Cost of Attendance: $49,539
Median SAT: 1020
Median ACT: 21
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Retention Rate: 68%
Graduation Rate: 49%

We hope you have found our list of the Best Colleges in West Virginia to be useful and informative as you continue your college search process. We also invite you to check out some of our other resources and tools including:

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Michael Trivette

A former admissions professional and adjunct faculty member, Michael knows firsthand what students need in order to be successful on a college campus. His experience in college admissions, enrollment management, intercollegiate athletics, student support services, student life and other areas, allows him to help students transition smoothly into the best good-fit colleges.