by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re seeking a diverse and multi-faceted college experience, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 48 schools by ethnic diversity in West Virginia, using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based on the racial and ethnic makeup of the student body. To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 48 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Not every student measures diversity the same way. Drill down by location, or explore the overall, racial-ethnic, gender, economic, and age diversity rankings, or other rankings below.
Want to compare schools head to head? We built a tool called College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Explore the leading colleges below:
American Public University System tops our 2026 ranking of the most ethnically diverse colleges in West Virginia. The school's ethnic diversity score is 70.6 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 70.6, with a gender-diversity score of 93.5.
Bethany College came in at #2 on this year's Most Ethnically Diverse Colleges ranking in West Virginia. On ethnic diversity, it scores 67.7 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 67.7, with a gender-diversity score of 97.4.
A rank of #3 makes University of Charleston one of the most ethnically diverse colleges in West Virginia. It scores 65.1 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 65.1, with a gender-diversity score of 94.9.
You'll find a welcoming community at Davis & Elkins College, which ranked #4 this year. Davis & Elkins College scores 60.0 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 60.0, with a gender-diversity score of 98.0.
Out of the 48 colleges in West Virginia in this year's ranking, Salem University landed the #5 spot. The school's ethnic diversity score is 59.9 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 59.9, alongside a 96.5 gender-diversity score.
Martinsburg College landed the #6 spot in West Virginia this year. It scores 59.2 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 59.2, and gender diversity 20.6.
Wheeling University earned the #7 position in West Virginia. The school's ethnic diversity score is 58.9 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 58.9, with a gender-diversity score of 98.5.
Valley College-Martinsburg landed the #8 spot in West Virginia this year. Valley College-Martinsburg scores 57.4 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 57.4, alongside a 60.0 gender-diversity score.
West Virginia Wesleyan College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. On ethnic diversity, it scores 56.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 56.0, with a gender-diversity score of 100.0.
Catholic International University placed #10 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in West Virginia. Catholic International University scores 53.9 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 53.9, and gender diversity 99.4.
West Virginia State University landed the #11 spot in West Virginia this year. It scores 52.1 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 52.1, with a gender-diversity score of 97.5.
Shepherd University landed the #12 spot in West Virginia this year. It scores 50.9 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 50.9, alongside a 94.9 gender-diversity score.
International Beauty School 4 earned the #13 position in West Virginia. On ethnic diversity, it scores 44.2 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 44.2, with a gender-diversity score of 50.3.
West Liberty University placed #14 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in West Virginia. West Liberty University scores 43.8 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 43.8, alongside a 94.6 gender-diversity score.
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine came in at #15 in this year's ranking. West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine scores 43.7 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 43.7, and gender diversity 100.0.
Marshall University placed #16 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in West Virginia. The school's ethnic diversity score is 43.5 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 43.5, with a gender-diversity score of 97.4.
West Virginia University placed #17 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in West Virginia. On ethnic diversity, it scores 42.3 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 42.3, with a gender-diversity score of 99.8.
Bluefield State University placed #18 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in West Virginia. Bluefield State University scores 41.1 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 41.1, with a gender-diversity score of 96.1.
Glenville State University landed the #19 spot in West Virginia this year. The school's ethnic diversity score is 38.6 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 38.6, with a gender-diversity score of 99.9.
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. On ethnic diversity, it scores 38.2 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 38.2, and gender diversity 97.9.
Mountwest Community and Technical College placed #21 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in West Virginia. Mountwest Community and Technical College scores 37.9 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 37.9, and gender diversity 97.3.
Strayer University-West Virginia ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. It scores 37.0 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 37.0, and gender diversity 88.1.
Concord University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. On ethnic diversity, it scores 37.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 37.0, with a gender-diversity score of 94.8.
West Virginia University Institute of Technology ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. On ethnic diversity, it scores 36.6 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 36.6, with a gender-diversity score of 100.0.
Cabell County Career Technology Center ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. Cabell County Career Technology Center scores 36.1 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 36.1, and gender diversity 94.4.
These colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the racial and ethnic makeup of the student body. The racial-ethnic minorities percentage is calculated by taking the total number of students, subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity is unknown, and dividing by total enrollment.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
See our data sources and methodologies.
