by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in West Virginia, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **15** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 15 graduate schools 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.
Here is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Our analysis found West Virginia School Of Osteopathic Medicine to be the best graduate school 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.
The strong outcomes at West Virginia University earned it the #2 place in West Virginia. West Virginia University is a public school based in Morgantown, WV. West Virginia University posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,750. The median student debt is $23,772.
University Of Charleston came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in West Virginia. Based in Charleston, WV, University Of Charleston is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Charleston graduates 44% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $22,617. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,407 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,646 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at Shepherd University, which ranked #4 this year. This public school is set in Shepherdstown, WV. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $9,056 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,082 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $40,748. Students borrow a median of $23,326 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at American Public University System, which ranked #5 this year. Set 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,404. Graduates carry a median of $23,438 in student loans.
Marshall University placed #6 among the best graduate schools in West Virginia. This public school is set in Huntington, WV. Marshall University posts a six-year graduation rate of 51%. 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.
Wheeling Jesuit University landed the #7 spot in West Virginia this year. Located in Wheeling, WV, Wheeling Jesuit University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 23% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $29,875 in tuition and fees. Wheeling Jesuit University graduates report median early-career earnings of $38,212. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete a degree here.
West Virginia Wesleyan College did well this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Buckhannon, WV, West Virginia Wesleyan College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $34,090 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,784 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,857.
West Liberty University landed the #9 spot in West Virginia this year. West Liberty University is a public school based in West Liberty, WV. 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. West Liberty University graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,761. Students borrow a median of $27,144 to complete a degree here.
Fairmont State University landed the #10 spot in West Virginia this year. Based in Fairmont, WV, Fairmont State University is a public institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,708, with out-of-state students paying around $18,924. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,920. The median student debt is $26,447.
Bluefield State College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Based in Bluefield, WV, Bluefield State College is a public institution. About 30% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,648, with out-of-state students paying around $18,376. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,103. Students borrow a median of $24,791 to complete a degree here.
Concord University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Concord University is a public school based in Athens, WV. Concord University graduates 39% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,664, with out-of-state students paying around $22,000. Median early-career earnings reach $35,661. The median student debt is $20,214.
Salem International University did well this year, earning the #13 position. This private for-profit school is set in Salem, WV. Salem International University graduates 17% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,070. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,133. Students borrow a median of $28,797 to complete a degree here.
West Virginia State University did well this year, earning the #14 position. This public school is set in Institute, WV. Roughly 39% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,570, with out-of-state students paying around $14,990. West Virginia State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $37,970. Students borrow a median of $28,452 to complete a degree here.
Glenville State College landed the #15 spot in West Virginia this year. This public school is set in Glenville, WV. Glenville State College graduates 35% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,578, compared with $11,354 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $32,699. Students borrow a median of $25,967 to complete a degree here.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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
See our data sources and methodologies.