by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in West Virginia, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks 61 graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed graduate schools 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.
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Explore the leading graduate schools below:
West Virginia University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in West Virginia. This public school is set in Morgantown, WV. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,750. West Virginia University students take on a median of $23,772 in debt.
The strong outcomes at University Of Charleston earned it the #2 place in West Virginia. This private not-for-profit school is set in Charleston, WV. University Of Charleston posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. In-state tuition and fees average $22,617. Early-career graduates earn a median of $64,407. Graduates carry a median of $22,646 in student loans.
Shepherd University came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in West Virginia. This public school is set in Shepherdstown, WV. About 51% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,056 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,082 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,748. Typical student debt is $23,326.
A rank of #4 makes American Public University System one of the top graduate schools in West Virginia. Set in Charles Town, WV, American Public University System is a private for-profit institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $57,404. American Public University System students take on a median of $23,438 in debt.
Marshall University came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking 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 run about $9,162, compared with $20,342 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $52,481. Typical student debt is $25,250.
Fairmont State University landed the #6 spot in West Virginia this year. This public school is set in Fairmont, WV. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. Students from in state pay about $8,708 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,924. Median early-career earnings reach $45,920. Typical student debt is $26,447.
Davis And Elkins College landed the #7 spot in West Virginia this year. Based in Elkins, WV, Davis And Elkins College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 39% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $31,820. Graduates go on to earn a median of $71,201 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,250 in student loans.
West Virginia Wesleyan College placed #8 among the best graduate schools in West Virginia. Based 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,090. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,784. West Virginia Wesleyan College students take on a median of $26,857 in debt.
Wheeling Jesuit University did well this year, earning the #9 position. 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. Typical student debt is $27,000.
Potomac State College Of West Virginia University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Set 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. Median early-career earnings reach $42,670. Typical student debt is $19,858.
West Virginia University Institute Of Technology placed #11 among the best graduate schools in West Virginia. Set in Beckley, WV, West Virginia University Institute Of Technology is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 33%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $21,072. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,754. Typical student debt is $24,864.
West Liberty University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in West Liberty, WV, West Liberty University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,893, with out-of-state students paying around $17,442. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,761. Students borrow a median of $27,144 to complete a degree here.
Pierpont Community And Technical College landed the #13 spot in West Virginia this year. This public school is set in Fairmont, WV. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,762, with out-of-state students paying around $13,660. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,759. Typical student debt is $16,268.
Bethany College West Virginia came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Bethany College West Virginia is a private not-for-profit school based in Bethany, WV. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,102. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $25,963. Graduates carry a median of $28,498 in student loans.
Bridgevalley Community And Technical College placed #15 among the best graduate schools in West Virginia. Located 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,587. Bridgevalley Community And Technical College students take on a median of $11,958 in debt.
Concord University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Athens, WV. Concord University graduates 39% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $10,664, with out-of-state students paying around $22,000. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $36,250. Graduates carry a median of $20,214 in student loans.
Bluefield State College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Bluefield, WV, Bluefield State College is a public institution. Bluefield State College graduates 30% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,648, with out-of-state students paying around $18,376. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,103. Graduates carry a median of $24,791 in student loans.
Blue Ridge Community And Technical College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Based in Martinsburg, WV, Blue Ridge Community And Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,752, with out-of-state students paying around $8,808. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,032. Students borrow a median of $18,402 to complete a degree here.
West Virginia University At Parkersburg came in at #19 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Parkersburg, WV. In-state tuition and fees average $5,476, compared with $9,424 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,400. Typical student debt is $15,595.
West Virginia State University placed #20 among the best graduate schools in West Virginia. Located in Institute, WV, West Virginia State University is a public institution. West Virginia State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 39%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,570, compared with $14,990 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $37,970. West Virginia State University students take on a median of $28,452 in debt.
Glenville State College placed #21 among the best graduate schools in West Virginia. Glenville State College is a public school based in Glenville, WV. Glenville State College graduates 35% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,578, while out-of-state students pay about $11,354. Early-career graduates earn a median of $32,699. Students borrow a median of $25,967 to complete a degree here.
Salem International University placed #22 among the best graduate schools in West Virginia. 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. 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 came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Set in Moorefield, WV, Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,722. Early-career graduates earn a median of $28,134. Typical student debt is $11,500.
Mountwest Community And Technical College landed the #24 spot in West Virginia this year. This public school is set in Huntington, WV. Students from in state pay about $4,938 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,304 for out-of-state students. Mountwest Community And Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $37,004. Typical student debt is $11,763.
New River Community And Technical College landed the #25 spot in West Virginia this year. This public school is set in Beaver, WV. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,156, with out-of-state students paying around $9,646. New River Community And Technical College graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,588. Students borrow a median of $8,187 to complete a degree here.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.