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2024 Best Grad Schools in West Virginia for Master's Degrees

11 Colleges
$54,814 Avg Salary

It's not easy to decide which grad school to attend when you have so many options available. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Master's Degree Colleges in West Virginia ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Jump to Any of the Following Sections: * Our Methodology

Finding Your Best Grad School Match

We analyzed 11 grad schools across West Virginia to determine which have the best master's degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best grad 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 Earnings

To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a master's degree from the school. After all, your master's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.

Average Student Debt

Graduate students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their master's so we factor that into our rankings as well. The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.

Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology

In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Master's 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.

Find out more about our graduate school ranking methodology

Customizing Your List of Rankings

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
Doctorate Degrees Ranking Other Graduate Rankings
If you'd rather work on your master's 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.

Thinking about continuing your education further? Check out our Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking.

Top Master's Degree Schools in West Virginia

Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:

1
American Military University crest
American Public University System
Charles Town, West Virginia
2,833 Master's Degrees Awarded
$60,867 Average Early-Career Earnings

Our 2024 rankings named American Public University System the best grad school in West Virginia in terms of overall quality for students working on their master’s degree. This large private for-profit school is located in Charles Town, West Virginia, and it awarded 2,833 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from American Military University is $60,867 during the early years of their career.

Full American Public University System Report

2
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia
1,480 Master's Degrees Awarded
$53,429 Average Early-Career Earnings

A rank of #2 on our Best Master’s Degree in West Virginia list means West Virginia University is a great place for students working on their degree. WVU is located in Morgantown, West Virginia and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,480 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.

The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from WVU is $53,429 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on West Virginia University

3
UC crest
University of Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia
197 Master's Degrees Awarded
$64,617 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Charleston. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in West Virginia list. UC is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Charleston, West Virginia. It awarded 197 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from UC is $64,617 during the early years of their career.

Learn More About University of Charleston

4
Marshall University crest
Marshall University
Huntington, West Virginia
763 Master's Degrees Awarded
$47,002 Average Early-Career Earnings

A rank of #4 on our Best Master’s 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 763 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a master’s degree from Marshall University make an average of $47,002 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Marshall University

5
Wheeling University crest
Wheeling University
Wheeling, West Virginia
58 Master's Degrees Awarded
$66,773 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wheeling University. The school came in at #5 in West Virginia on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. Wheeling University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wheeling, West Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 58 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $66,773 during the early years of their career.

Learn More About Wheeling University

6
West Liberty University crest
West Liberty University
West Liberty, West Virginia
129 Master's Degrees Awarded
$58,330 Average Early-Career Earnings

West Liberty University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking, coming in at #6. Located in West Liberty, West Virginia, the small public school handed out 129 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from West Liberty University is $58,330 during the early years of their career.

Full West Liberty University Report

7
Concord University crest
Concord University
Athens, West Virginia
104 Master's Degrees Awarded
$40,826 Average Early-Career Earnings

Concord University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in West Virginia list. Athens, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 104 students in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $40,826 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Concord University

8
Shepherd University crest
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, West Virginia
50 Master's Degrees Awarded
$45,312 Average Early-Career Earnings

Shepherd University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking, coming in at #8. Shepherdstown, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a master’s degree from Shepherd University go into careers with an average salary of $45,312 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Shepherd University

9
Fairmont State crest
Fairmont State University
Fairmont, West Virginia
80 Master's Degrees Awarded
$40,813 Average Early-Career Earnings

Fairmont State University landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking. Located in Fairmont, West Virginia, the small public school awarded 80 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Fairmont State make an average of $40,813 a year.

Full Fairmont State University Report

10
WVSU crest
West Virginia State University
Institute, West Virginia
54 Master's Degrees Awarded

West Virginia State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in West Virginia list. WVSU is located in Institute, West Virginia and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 54 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.

Learn More About West Virginia State University

11
Salem crest
Salem University
Salem, West Virginia
107 Master's Degrees Awarded
$48,472 Average Early-Career Earnings

Salem University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking. Salem is a private for-profit institution located in Salem, West Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 107 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Salem make an average of $48,472 a year.

Learn More About Salem University

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Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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