2026 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in West Virginia
With all of the college options in West Virginia, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights **18** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 18 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Top 25 Colleges in West Virginia
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
American Public University System earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in West Virginia. Based in Charles Town, WV, American Public University System is a private for-profit institution. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400. American Public University System graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,404. American Public University System students take on a median of $23,438 in debt.
The strong outcomes at University Of Charleston earned it the #2 place in West Virginia. University Of Charleston is a private not-for-profit school based in Charleston, WV. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $22,617. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $64,407. The median student debt is $22,646.
A rank of #3 makes Marshall University one of the top colleges in West Virginia. Located in Huntington, WV, Marshall University is a public institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $9,162, compared with $20,342 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,481. Marshall University students take on a median of $25,250 in debt.
Out of the 18 colleges in West Virginia in this year's ranking, Fairmont State University landed the #4 spot. Fairmont State University is a public school based in Fairmont, WV. Fairmont State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,708, compared with $18,924 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,920. Students borrow a median of $26,447 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #5 makes Potomac State College Of West Virginia University one of the top colleges in West Virginia. Potomac State College Of West Virginia University is a public school based in Keyser, WV. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,200. Potomac State College Of West Virginia University graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,670. Students borrow a median of $19,858 to complete a degree here.
Davis And Elkins College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Elkins, WV, Davis And Elkins College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 39% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $31,820. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $71,201. Davis And Elkins College students take on a median of $26,250 in debt.
West Liberty University landed the #7 spot in West Virginia this year. Located in West Liberty, WV, West Liberty University is a public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,893, while out-of-state students pay about $17,442. Median early-career earnings reach $48,761. Students borrow a median of $27,144 to complete a degree here.
Pierpont Community And Technical College came in at #8 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Fairmont, WV. Students from in state pay about $5,762 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,660 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,759. Typical student debt is $16,268.
Bridgevalley Community And Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in South Charleston, WV, Bridgevalley Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,800, with out-of-state students paying around $12,428. Median early-career earnings reach $46,587. Typical student debt is $11,958.
Bluefield State College landed the #10 spot in West Virginia this year. This public school is set in Bluefield, WV. Bluefield State College posts a six-year graduation rate of 30%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,648, while out-of-state students pay about $18,376. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,103. Students borrow a median of $24,791 to complete a degree here.
Blue Ridge Community And Technical College did well this year, earning the #11 position. This public school is set in Martinsburg, WV. Students from in state pay about $4,752 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,808 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,032. Students borrow a median of $18,402 to complete a degree here.
West Virginia University At Parkersburg ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. West Virginia University At Parkersburg is a public school based in Parkersburg, WV. In-state tuition and fees average $5,476, while out-of-state students pay about $9,424. Median early-career earnings reach $45,400. Graduates carry a median of $15,595 in student loans.
Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College landed the #13 spot in West Virginia this year. Based in Moorefield, WV, Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,722. Median early-career earnings reach $28,134. Graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans.
Glenville State College landed the #14 spot in West Virginia this year. Glenville State College is a public school based in Glenville, WV. Roughly 35% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,578, with out-of-state students paying around $11,354. Early-career graduates earn a median of $32,699. The median student debt is $25,967.
Mountwest Community And Technical College landed the #15 spot in West Virginia this year. Mountwest Community And Technical College is a public school based in Huntington, WV. In-state tuition and fees average $4,938, with out-of-state students paying around $12,304. Mountwest Community And Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $37,004. Typical student debt is $11,763.
Salem International University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Salem International University is a private for-profit school based in Salem, WV. Salem International University graduates 17% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $12,070. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,133 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,797 to complete a degree here.
Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College landed the #17 spot in West Virginia this year. Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College is a public school based in Logan, WV. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,136, compared with $7,872 for out-of-state students.
West Virginia Northern Community College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Wheeling, WV. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,706, compared with $12,698 for out-of-state students. West Virginia Northern Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $37,542. West Virginia Northern Community College students take on a median of $11,528 in debt.
New River Community And Technical College landed the #19 spot in West Virginia this year. Based in Beaver, WV, New River Community And Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,156, while out-of-state students pay about $9,646. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,588. Graduates carry a median of $8,187 in student loans.
Huntington Junior College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Huntington, WV. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,050. Graduates go on to earn a median of $25,576 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,069 to complete a degree here.
West Virginia Junior College Morgantown ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Morgantown, WV, West Virginia Junior College Morgantown is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,798. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,112 early in their careers. West Virginia Junior College Morgantown students take on a median of $13,870 in debt.
Martinsburg College placed #22 among the best colleges in West Virginia. Set in Martinsburg, WV, Martinsburg College is a private for-profit institution. Early-career graduates earn a median of $22,574. Students borrow a median of $8,942 to complete a degree here.
Valley College Martinsburg placed #23 among the best colleges in West Virginia. Set in Martinsburg, WV, Valley College Martinsburg is a private for-profit institution. About 38% of students finish within six years. Graduates go on to earn a median of $29,022 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $14,930.
West Virginia Junior College Charleston did well this year, earning the #24 position. West Virginia Junior College Charleston is a private for-profit school based in Cross Lanes, WV. Students from in state pay about $14,798 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $24,785. The median student debt is $10,729.
West Virginia Junior College Bridgeport placed #25 among the best colleges in West Virginia. Based in Bridgeport, WV, West Virginia Junior College Bridgeport is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,798. Graduates go on to earn a median of $24,785 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $10,729.
Rest of the Top 20% Best Colleges in West Virginia
These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
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Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
