2027 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in West Virginia
[Liberal Arts General Studies](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for liberal arts general studies students.
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2027 Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in West Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in liberal arts general studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Liberal Arts General Studies Schools
Our analysis ranked West Virginia University At Parkersburg the best value for a degree in liberal arts general studies in West Virginia. West Virginia University At Parkersburg is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Parkersburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,476, with out-of-state students paying around $9,424. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $15,084. Early-career liberal arts 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 liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the suburb of South Charleston, Bridgevalley Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,800, with out-of-state students paying around $12,428. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $6,750. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Bridgevalley Community And Technical College earn a median of $23,902 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,750 median debt.
Marshall University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,162, with out-of-state students paying around $20,342. Students borrow a median of $29,248 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Marshall University generally make around $32,282. That is a strong return on a $29,248 median debt. Marshall University admits about 96% of applicants.
Blue Ridge Community And Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts general studies, landing the #4 spot this year. 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, compared with $8,808 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $32,872. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt.
New River Community And Technical College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. 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, compared with $9,646 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $8,187 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $44,588. That is a strong return on a $8,187 median debt.
Mountwest Community And Technical College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. Mountwest Community And Technical College is a small public school located in the suburb of Huntington. Students from in state pay about $4,938 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,304. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Mountwest Community And Technical College generally make around $43,753. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College came in at #7 for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the rural area of Moorefield, Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,722. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $28,134. That is a strong return on a $11,500 median debt.
Pierpont Community And Technical College earned the #8 position for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the town of Fairmont, Pierpont Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,762, compared with $13,660 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $18,366 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Pierpont Community And Technical College generally make around $43,759. Set against $18,366 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Virginia Northern Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. West Virginia Northern Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Wheeling. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,706, with out-of-state students paying around $12,698. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $14,369. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $22,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
American Public University System placed #10 among the best values for liberal arts general studies. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $6,195 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $55,029. Set against $6,195 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fairmont State University landed the #11 spot for liberal arts general studies value this year. Located in the town of Fairmont, Fairmont State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,708, with out-of-state students paying around $18,924. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $30,939. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Fairmont State University generally make around $33,815. That is a strong return on a $30,939 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
West Virginia University Institute Of Technology came in at #12 for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the city of Beckley, West Virginia University Institute Of Technology is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,072 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $25,000. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of West Virginia University Institute Of Technology earn a median of $34,883 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. West Virginia University Institute Of Technology admits about 37% of applicants.
Potomac State College Of West Virginia University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the town of Keyser, Potomac State College Of West Virginia University is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,200 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $24,874. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Concord University earned the #14 position for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the rural area of Athens, Concord University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,664, while out-of-state students pay about $22,000. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates carry a median of $24,326 in student loans. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Concord University earn a median of $32,499 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,326 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
West Virginia State University landed the #15 spot for liberal arts general studies value this year. West Virginia State University is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Institute. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,570, compared with $14,990 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,125 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from West Virginia State University generally make around $41,319. Set against $31,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. West Virginia State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College landed the #16 spot for liberal arts general studies value this year. Set in the town of Logan, Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,136, compared with $7,872 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $32,153 ten years out.
Shepherd University earned the #17 position for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the rural area of Shepherdstown, Shepherd University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,056, while out-of-state students pay about $19,082. Students borrow a median of $29,500 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $33,587. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Bluefield State College landed the #18 spot for liberal arts general studies value this year. Set in the town of Bluefield, Bluefield State College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,648, while out-of-state students pay about $18,376. Students borrow a median of $28,655 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Bluefield State College earn a median of $25,677 early in their careers. Set against $28,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bluefield State College admits about 97% of applicants.
Glenville State College came in at #19 for value in liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the rural area of Glenville, Glenville State College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,578, while out-of-state students pay about $11,354. Students borrow a median of $24,647 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $25,428. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Liberty University placed #20 among the best values for liberal arts general studies. West Liberty University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of West Liberty. In-state tuition and fees average $8,893, compared with $17,442 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the liberal arts general studies program here. Early-career liberal arts general studies graduates make about $37,379. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. West Liberty University admits about 97% of applicants.
West Virginia University landed the #21 spot for liberal arts general studies value this year. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts general studies graduates is $18,500. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $24,874 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. West Virginia University admits about 89% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, 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.
