2026 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in West Virginia
[Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong liberal arts / sciences & humanities education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 26 schools to find the best return on investment for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
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2026 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in West Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
For return on investment in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, no school beat West Virginia University At Parkersburg this year. Set in the rural area of Parkersburg, West Virginia University At Parkersburg is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,476, with out-of-state students paying around $9,424. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $15,084. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of West Virginia University At Parkersburg earn a median of $33,159 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,084 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Bridgevalley Community And Technical College one of the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $12,428. Students borrow a median of $6,750 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Bridgevalley Community And Technical College generally make around $23,902. That is a strong return on a $6,750 median debt.
Blue Ridge Community And Technical College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the rural area of Martinsburg, Blue Ridge Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,752, while out-of-state students pay about $8,808. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Blue Ridge Community And Technical College generally make around $32,872. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New River Community And Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the rural area of Beaver, New River Community And Technical College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,156, with out-of-state students paying around $9,646. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $8,187. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from New River Community And Technical College generally make around $44,588. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Virginia Northern Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Wheeling, West Virginia Northern Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,706, compared with $12,698 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,369 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from West Virginia Northern Community College generally make around $22,166. Set against $14,369 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Potomac State College Of West Virginia University came in at #6 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the town of Keyser, Potomac State College Of West Virginia University is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, compared with $13,200 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $18,500. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $24,874. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Marshall University earned the #7 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Marshall University is a large public school located in the city of Huntington. In-state tuition and fees average $9,162, with out-of-state students paying around $20,342. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $29,248. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Marshall University earn a median of $32,282 early in their careers. Set against $29,248 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Marshall University admits about 96% of applicants.
Mountwest Community And Technical College earned the #8 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the suburb of Huntington, Mountwest Community And Technical College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,938, compared with $12,304 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $11,500. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities 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.
Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College placed #9 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College is a small public school located in the rural area of Moorefield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,722. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $11,500. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College generally make around $28,134. That is a strong return on a $11,500 median debt.
American Public University System placed #10 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. American Public University System is a very large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400. Students borrow a median of $6,195 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $55,029. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College landed the #11 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Logan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,136, with out-of-state students paying around $7,872. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $32,153.
Fairmont State University earned the #12 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Set in the town of Fairmont, Fairmont State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,708, while out-of-state students pay about $18,924. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $30,939. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Fairmont State University earn a median of $33,815 early in their careers. Set against $30,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Pierpont Community And Technical College came in at #13 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Pierpont Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fairmont. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,762, while out-of-state students pay about $13,660. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $18,366 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $43,759. That is a strong return on a $18,366 median debt.
Concord University earned the #14 position for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Concord University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,664, compared with $22,000 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,326 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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. Concord University admits about 93% of applicants.
West Virginia State University placed #15 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. West Virginia State University is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Institute. Students from in state pay about $9,570 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,990. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $31,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from West Virginia State University generally make around $41,319. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. West Virginia State University admits about 96% of applicants.
Shepherd University landed the #16 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Shepherd University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Shepherdstown. In-state tuition and fees average $9,056, compared with $19,082 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,500 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Shepherd University generally make around $33,587. Set against $29,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Shepherd University admits about 97% of applicants.
West Virginia University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $24,874. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Bluefield State College landed the #18 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Located in the town of Bluefield, Bluefield State College is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $10,648 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,376 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $28,655. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities 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. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Glenville State College placed #19 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the rural area of Glenville, Glenville State College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,578 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,354. Students borrow a median of $24,647 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Glenville State College generally make around $25,428. Set against $24,647 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
More Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
