2027 Best Value General Studies Schools in West Virginia
[General Studies](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/general-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general studies schools.
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2027 Best Value General Studies Schools in West Virginia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Studies Schools
West Virginia University At Parkersburg tops our 2027 list of the best value general studies schools in West Virginia. Located in the rural area of Parkersburg, West Virginia University At Parkersburg is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,476, while out-of-state students pay about $9,424. Students borrow a median of $15,084 to complete the general studies program here. Early-career general studies graduates make about $33,159. That is a strong return on a $15,084 median debt.
Bridgevalley Community And Technical College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value general studies schools. Located in the suburb of South Charleston, Bridgevalley Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,800 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,428 for out-of-state students. General Studies graduates carry a median of $6,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Bridgevalley Community And Technical College generally make around $23,902. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general studies will find it at Blue Ridge Community And Technical College, which ranked #3. Blue Ridge Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Martinsburg. In-state tuition and fees average $4,752, with out-of-state students paying around $8,808. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $17,500. Early-career general studies graduates make about $32,872. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt.
Marshall University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,162, with out-of-state students paying around $20,342. Students borrow a median of $29,248 to complete the general studies program here. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Marshall University generally make around $32,282. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Marshall University admits about 96% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general studies will find it at New River Community And Technical College, which ranked #5. Set in the rural area of Beaver, New River Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,156, while out-of-state students pay about $9,646. General Studies graduates carry a median of $8,187 in student loans. General Studies graduates of New River Community And Technical College earn a median of $44,588 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,187 median debt.
Mountwest Community And Technical College earned the #6 position for value in general studies this year. Located in the suburb of Huntington, Mountwest Community And Technical College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,938, while out-of-state students pay about $12,304. General Studies graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Mountwest Community And Technical College generally make around $43,753. Set against $11,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Virginia Northern Community College placed #7 among the best values for general studies. Set in the city of Wheeling, West Virginia Northern Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,706, with out-of-state students paying around $12,698. General Studies graduates carry a median of $14,369 in student loans. Early-career general studies graduates make about $22,166. That is a strong return on a $14,369 median debt.
Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College landed the #8 spot for general studies value this year. Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College is a small public school located in the rural area of Moorefield. Students from in state pay about $4,722 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $11,500. General Studies graduates of Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College earn a median of $28,134 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pierpont Community And Technical College came in at #9 for value in general studies this year. Set in the town of Fairmont, Pierpont Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,762, compared with $13,660 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,366 to complete the general studies program here. General Studies graduates of Pierpont Community And Technical College earn a median of $43,759 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,366 median debt.
Fairmont State University came in at #10 for value in general studies this year. Fairmont State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fairmont. Students from in state pay about $8,708 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,924. Students borrow a median of $30,939 to complete the general studies program here. Early-career general studies graduates make about $33,815. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fairmont State University admits about 99% of applicants.
American Public University System placed #11 among the best values for general studies. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $6,195 to complete the general studies program here. Early-career general studies graduates make about $55,029. That is a strong return on a $6,195 median debt.
West Virginia University Institute Of Technology earned the #12 position for value in general studies this year. Set in the city of Beckley, West Virginia University Institute Of Technology is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $21,072. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from West Virginia University Institute Of Technology generally make around $34,883. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 37% of applicants are accepted.
Potomac State College Of West Virginia University earned the #13 position for value in general studies this year. Located in the town of Keyser, Potomac State College Of West Virginia University is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, while out-of-state students pay about $13,200. General Studies graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Potomac State College Of West Virginia University generally make around $24,874. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Concord University earned the #14 position for value in general studies this year. Concord University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Athens. Students from in state pay about $10,664 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,000 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,326 to complete the general studies program here. Early-career general studies graduates make about $32,499. That is a strong return on a $24,326 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College earned the #15 position for value in general studies this year. Set in the town of Logan, Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,136, while out-of-state students pay about $7,872. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,153 ten years after entry.
West Virginia State University placed #16 among the best values for general studies. Set in the suburb of Institute, West Virginia State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,570, compared with $14,990 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general studies graduates is $31,125. General Studies graduates of West Virginia State University earn a median of $41,319 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Shepherd University placed #17 among the best values for general studies. Set in the rural area of Shepherdstown, Shepherd University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,056 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,082. General Studies graduates carry a median of $29,500 in student loans. Early-career general studies graduates make about $33,587. That is a strong return on a $29,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Bluefield State College earned the #18 position for value in general studies this year. Bluefield State College is a small public school located in the town of Bluefield. In-state tuition and fees average $10,648, with out-of-state students paying around $18,376. Students borrow a median of $28,655 to complete the general studies program here. General Studies graduates of Bluefield State College earn a median of $25,677 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Glenville State College came in at #19 for value in general studies this year. Set in the rural area of Glenville, Glenville State College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,578, while out-of-state students pay about $11,354. Students borrow a median of $24,647 to complete the general studies program here. General Studies graduates of Glenville State College earn a median of $25,428 early in their careers. Set against $24,647 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Liberty University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value general studies schools. Located in the rural area of West Liberty, West Liberty University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,893 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,442. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the general studies program here. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from West Liberty University generally make around $37,379. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. West Liberty University admits about 97% of applicants.
West Virginia University placed #21 among the best values for general studies. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. General Studies graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $24,874. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
