by our College Data Analytics TeamWest Virginia University ranks #1 of 61 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Colleges in West Virginia ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 42% six-year graduation rate and $57,706 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in West Virginia, it can be hard to know where to start. We have ranked **61** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 61 colleges across over 20 objective factors 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.
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West Virginia University leads the 61 ranked colleges in West Virginia, followed by West Virginia School Of Osteopathic Medicine (#2) and University Of Charleston (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:
West Virginia University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in West Virginia. This public school is set in Morgantown, WV. West Virginia University graduates 64% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,750 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $23,772.
A rank of #2 makes West Virginia School Of Osteopathic Medicine one of the top colleges in West Virginia. West Virginia School Of Osteopathic Medicine is a public school based in Lewisburg, WV. Early-career graduates earn a median of $61,064.
You'll be in good company at University Of Charleston, which ranked #3 this year. University Of Charleston is a private not-for-profit school based in Charleston, WV. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. In-state tuition and fees run about $22,617. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $64,407. The median student debt is $22,646.
Shepherd University came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in West Virginia. Shepherd University is a public school based in Shepherdstown, WV. Shepherd University graduates 51% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,056, with out-of-state students paying around $19,082. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,748 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $23,326 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at American Public University System, which ranked #5 this year. Located in Charles Town, WV, American Public University System is a private for-profit institution. American Public University System posts a six-year graduation rate of 47%. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,404 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $23,438.
Marshall University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Huntington, WV. Marshall University graduates 51% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,162, while out-of-state students pay about $20,342. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,481 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans.
West Virginia Wesleyan College landed the #7 spot in West Virginia this year. Located in Buckhannon, WV, West Virginia Wesleyan College is a private not-for-profit institution. West Virginia Wesleyan College graduates 57% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $34,090 in tuition and fees. West Virginia Wesleyan College graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,784. Graduates carry a median of $26,857 in student loans.
Davis And Elkins College did well this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Elkins, WV, Davis And Elkins College is a private not-for-profit institution. Davis And Elkins College posts a six-year graduation rate of 39%. In-state tuition and fees average $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.
Wheeling Jesuit University landed the #9 spot in West Virginia this year. Based in Wheeling, WV, Wheeling Jesuit University is a private not-for-profit institution. Wheeling Jesuit University graduates 23% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,875. Median early-career earnings reach $38,212. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Fairmont State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Fairmont, WV, Fairmont State University is a public institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,708, compared with $18,924 for out-of-state students. Fairmont State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,920. Graduates carry a median of $26,447 in student loans.
Potomac State College Of West Virginia University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Keyser, WV, Potomac State College Of West Virginia University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,280, compared with $13,200 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,670 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,858 to complete a degree here.
West Virginia University Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Beckley, WV, West Virginia University Institute Of Technology is a public institution. About 33% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, compared with $21,072 for out-of-state students. West Virginia University Institute Of Technology graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,907. Graduates carry a median of $24,855 in student loans.
West Liberty University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in West Liberty, WV. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,893, with out-of-state students paying around $17,442. West Liberty University graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,761. West Liberty University students take on a median of $27,144 in debt.
Bridgevalley Community And Technical College did well this year, earning the #14 position. Based in South Charleston, WV, Bridgevalley Community And Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,800 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,428 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,587. Students borrow a median of $11,958 to complete a degree here.
Pierpont Community And Technical College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Located in Fairmont, WV, Pierpont Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,762, with out-of-state students paying around $13,660. Pierpont Community And Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,759. The median student debt is $16,268.
Bethany College West Virginia ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Bethany, WV, Bethany College West Virginia is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. In-state tuition and fees run about $36,102. Bethany College West Virginia graduates report median early-career earnings of $25,963. Typical student debt is $28,498.
Concord University landed the #17 spot in West Virginia this year. Concord University is a public school based in Athens, WV. About 39% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,664 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,000. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $35,661. The median student debt is $20,214.
Bluefield State College landed the #18 spot in West Virginia this year. Bluefield State College is a public school based in Bluefield, WV. The six-year graduation rate is 30%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,648, compared with $18,376 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,103 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $24,791 in student loans.
Blue Ridge Community And Technical College placed #19 among the best colleges in West Virginia. Based in Martinsburg, WV, Blue Ridge Community And Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,752 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,808. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,032 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $18,402 in student loans.
West Virginia University At Parkersburg came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Located in Parkersburg, WV, West Virginia University At Parkersburg is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,476, compared with $9,424 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,400. Students borrow a median of $15,595 to complete a degree here.
Mountwest Community And Technical College landed the #21 spot in West Virginia this year. Based in Huntington, WV, Mountwest Community And Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,938, while out-of-state students pay about $12,304. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,004 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $11,763.
Glenville State College did well this year, earning the #22 position. Set in Glenville, WV, Glenville State College is a public institution. Glenville State College graduates 35% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,578, compared with $11,354 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $32,699. Glenville State College students take on a median of $25,967 in debt.
West Virginia State University did well this year, earning the #23 position. Located in Institute, WV, West Virginia State University is a public institution. West Virginia State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 39%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,570, compared with $14,990 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,970 early in their careers. West Virginia State University students take on a median of $28,452 in debt.
Salem International University did well this year, earning the #24 position. Salem International University is a private for-profit school based in Salem, WV. The six-year graduation rate is 17%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,070. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,133. The median student debt is $28,797.
Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College did well this year, earning the #25 position. This public school is set in Moorefield, WV. Students from in state pay about $4,722 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $28,134 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $11,500 in student loans.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 61 in West Virginia. Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Colleges are scored on 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
See our data sources and methodologies.