There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top West Virginia Colleges for an Associate ranking - to help you make that decision.
After analyzing 21 schools in West Virginia, we came up with our list of those that offered the best associate degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
Early-Career Salaries Are Higher
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a associate degree from the school. A associate degree holder from a school in West Virginia makes an average starting salary of $34,789, but the students who attended schools in the top 17 of our list make an average of $37,937.
Starting Salary ( 26026 to 50634 )
Average Student Debt
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that students take on while pursuing their associate degree.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients from schools in West Virginia have accumulated an average of $17,466 in student debt.
The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
If you'd rather work on your associate degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our rankings by place. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Our 2024 rankings named American Public University System the best school in West Virginia in terms of overall quality for students working on their associate degree. American Military University is located in Charles Town, West Virginia and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3,411 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from American Military University make an average of $38,331 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $19,979 in student loans.
A rank of #2 on our Best Associate Degree in West Virginia list means Marshall University is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Huntington, West Virginia, the fairly large public school handed out 113 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Marshall University make an average of $54,506 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $24,420 after getting their degree.
A rank of #3 on our Best Associate Degree in West Virginia list means West Liberty University is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in West Liberty, West Virginia, the small public school awarded 28 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Associate students leave the school with an average of $26,646 in student loans.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Fairmont State University. The school came in at #4 in West Virginia on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. Fairmont State University is a small public school located in Fairmont, West Virginia that handed out 138 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $58,529 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $27,875.
Out of the 21 associate degree schools in West Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Charleston landed the #5 spot on the list. Charleston, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 133 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from UC go into careers with an average salary of $46,944 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $23,736 after getting their degree.
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking, coming in at #6. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Martinsburg, West Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 372 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $34,100 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $19,940.
Davis & Elkins College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Elkins, West Virginia, and it awarded 40 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Associate students leave the school with an average of $25,375 in student loans.
With a ranking of #8, Potomac State College of West Virginia University did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia list. WVU Potomac State College is a small public school situated in Keyser, West Virginia. It awarded 245 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from WVU Potomac State College make an average of $20,472 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $11,703.
Bluefield State College landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking. Bluefield State College is located in Bluefield, West Virginia and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 127 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Bluefield State College make an average of $50,489 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $18,325.
With a ranking of #10, Pierpont Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia list. Fairmont, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 364 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $49,141 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $15,535 after getting their degree.
Mountwest Community and Technical College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia list. Huntington, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 291 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from MCTC is $32,727 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $12,721.
With a ranking of #12, BridgeValley Community & Technical College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia list. BridgeValley Community & Technical College is a small public school situated in South Charleston, West Virginia. It awarded 319 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from BridgeValley Community & Technical College make an average of $45,780 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $14,526 in student loans.
West Virginia University at Parkersburg did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Parkersburg, West Virginia, the small public school awarded 316 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $42,546 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,966 in student loans.
West Virginia Northern Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking, coming in at #14. WVNCC is a public institution located in Wheeling, West Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 308 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from WVNCC make an average of $31,792 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $12,971.
Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia list. Located in Moorefield, West Virginia, the small public school awarded 50 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College go into careers with an average salary of $19,216 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,816 in student loans.
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking. Southern is a public institution located in Mount Gay, West Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 321 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Southern is $44,163 during the early years of their career.
Salem University landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking. Located in Salem, West Virginia, the small private for-profit school handed out 71 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $22,570.
New River Community and Technical College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia list. Located in Beaver, West Virginia, the small public school handed out 107 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from New River Community and Technical College make an average of $23,297 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #19, Glenville State College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia list. Glenville, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 151 students in 2020-2021.
The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $20,000.
With a ranking of #20, West Virginia Junior College - Morgantown did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia list. Morgantown, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 299 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $29,937 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,867 in student loans.
West Virginia Junior College - Charleston ranked #21 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in West Virginia list. WVJC Charleston is located in Cross Lanes, West Virginia and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 109 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $22,956 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $9,230.
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).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
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