Best Colleges in West Virginia

Why Should I Consider Studying in West Virginia?

Students who decide to attend college in West Virginia have the opportunity to experience the natural beauty and welcoming people of the state. Focusing on technology, public health, and energy related fields, higher education in West Virginia may be a great choice for students pursuing a career in those spaces.

Morgantown is home to West Virginia University. As the largest school in the state, WVU offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs such as engineering, nursing, and business. West Virginia Tech and Marshall University both offer a wide range of technical and professional programs.

Students interested in a smaller or more liberal arts college have plenty of options in West Virginia as well. Shepherd University in Shepherdstown and Bethany College provide students with a more intimate learning environment with smaller class sizes, more personalized attention from professors, and a tight knit campus community.

Regardless of where a student decides to go to school in the state, West Virginia is home to ample opportunities for natural beauty and outdoor recreation. The Appalachians provide miles of trails for hikers, beautiful waterways for fishing, and stunning views for sightseers.

West Virginia Higher Education By The Numbers

Colleges in West Virginia

West Virginia has the 32nd most colleges in the country with 70 colleges located there. For a little context, that's 88% fewer colleges than the leading state. 44% of West Virginia's colleges are private and 56% of its colleges are public. (31 private colleges & 39 public colleges). It has the 6th highest public to private college ratio in the United States of America.

Our top three picks in West Virginia are West Virginia University, West Virginia University Institute of Technology, and Wheeling University. West Virginia University has the most students of any public college in the top 25 colleges (30,045). American Public University System has the most students of any private college in our top 25 (89,719).

Students in West Virginia

The median state has 314,827 college students. West Virginia has 34% fewer. There are 99,732 public college students and 107,727 private college students in West Virginia. It has more public college students than 12 states and more private college students than 28 states. Its 207,459 total students make it the 17th least popular destination in the United States. 48% of West Virginia's students attend public institutions which is the 4th lowest percentage countrywide.