Most of West Virginia’s institutions are modest to medium, with a mix of research universities, liberal arts colleges, and a few tiny private Christian colleges.
Although West Virginia University in Morgantown is the state’s major traditional university, just roughly half of its students are from the state.
In the state capital of Charleston, which you can locate or find in the center section of the state, there are quite a several institutions.
Residents of West Virginia can use the Academic Common Market to attend schools and universities in neighboring states such as Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, and Tennessee and pay in-state tuition; however, students must enroll in an approved degree program.
In this article, you will get to learn not just the 10 best community colleges in West Virginia but also the following; what is West Virginia known for? is West Virginia a good place to live? Is West Virginia safe?
Keep reading.
Table of contents
What Is West Virginia Known For?
They know West Virginia for its breathtaking mountain scenery, unparalleled outdoor recreation possibilities, and some of the friendliest people in the country.
West Virginia is the only state entirely surrounded by the Appalachian Mountain range, earning it the moniker “Mountain State.” Besides that, West Virginia is the third-most densely forested state in the US.
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Is West Virginia A Good Place To Live?
Locals have described their neighbors in the Mountain State as having a “strong feeling of community,” as well as being “unpretentious” and “humble.”
Others have even remarked that West Virginians are the “nicest people on the globe,” and that despite their powerful sense of state pride, they are highly friendly to visitors.
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Is West Virginia Safe?
West Virginians have lower crime rates than residents of many other states, and the state’s safest cities have remarkably low crime rates.
We weren’t surprised, though, to see that West Virginians are 9 percent less concerned about crime and safety daily than the national average.
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Does West Virginia Have Good Colleges?
Most of West Virginia’s institutions are small to moderate, with a mix of research universities, liberal arts colleges, and a few tiny private Christian colleges.
In the state capital of Charleston, which is in the center section of the state, there are a few top institutions.
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What Is Bad About West Virginia?
For years, it has had the highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the country. It also has the greatest obesity rate, as well as the highest rates of diabetes and hypertension.
The highest suicide rate among states east of the Mississippi River adds to the troubles.
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Best Colleges in West Virginia in 2023
Here’s a list of some of the best Colleges in West Virginia:
1. West Virginia Wesleyan College
Wesleyan University is a member of the United Methodist Church. Education and business are two of the most popular undergraduate degrees at the school.
Students benefit from a 13-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio in the classroom. Students in any major develop critical thinking, communication, and cooperation abilities.
Wesleyan University does not mandate students to attend religious services, but it provides organizations and support services for them to renew their faith and give back to the community.
Another extracurricular activity is the school’s e-sports program, which began in 2018.
The National Association of Collegiate eSports and the American Video Game League are both affiliated with the university.
They accept the Common Application and GED scores at Wesleyan. In addition, all applicants must submit their ACT or SAT results.
For entering first-year students, automatic merit-based scholarships range from $13,000 to $17,000 each year. Students who are transferring should look at other financial help options.
2. West Virginia University
WVU’s Morgantown campus teaches nearly 26,000 undergraduate and graduate students, making it West Virginia’s top public institution.
Over 130 undergraduate degrees in a variety of areas are available through the university’s 15 schools and colleges, including design studies, exercise physiology, and hospitality and tourism management.
WVU’s EXCEL program also promotes hands-on learning and creative academic research.
WVU is one of the state’s largest universities, and it provides students with many fascinating options outside of the classroom.
There are dozens of leisure activities offered by the university, over 450 student organizations and clubs, and students have access to a 17,000-square-foot recreation center. Basketball, kickball, and volleyball are among the 12 intramural sports available to students.
Applicants from within the state need to have a minimum 2.0 high school GPA, while those from outside the state should have a minimum of 2.5. WVU also applies cutoffs based on standardized test scores.
The university’s scholarship table can help prospective students determine their scholarship eligibility. In-state students may be eligible for automatic scholarships of up to $4,000 each year.
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3. Marshall University
They enroll over 13,000 students in undergraduate, graduate, and online programs at MU, a public research university.
Over 60 undergraduate majors are available on campus, including advertising, dietetics, and medical laboratory science.
Graduate students have even more possibilities, and online students benefit from the Blackboard virtual learning system’s asynchronous curriculum.
Many perks are available to Honors College students, including merit-based scholarships, unique living-learning communities, and priority registration.
Three semester-long seminars and a study abroad experience are emphasized in the honors curriculum. Honors College students maintain a minimum 3.3 GPA to be in good academic standing.
GED, TASC, and HiSET results are accepted at MU, making it a viable choice for students who do not have a high school diploma.
Although MU uses standardized test score cutoffs, they may still admit some applicants conditionally if they do not meet the cutoffs. Automatic scholarships of up to $5,000 per year are available to in-state students.
4. Shepherd University
Shepherd University educates about 4,000 undergraduate, graduate, and dual-enrollment students from its Shepherdstown campus.
Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Civil War and 19th-century America, and jazz performance are just a few of the undergraduate majors available.
Shepherd chooses 40 intellectually outstanding students to take part in the honors program each year, where they complete a challenging curriculum that includes multiple honors seminars and a capstone requirement.
Shepard provides a wide range of helpful services. The TRiO Program, for example, provides free tutoring and mentorship to first-generation and economically disadvantaged kids.
All Shepherd students can also visit the Academic Support Center — or make a virtual appointment — for help with schoolwork and to enhance their writing abilities.
Shepherd’s average candidate has a 3.45 high school GPA and an ACT score of 23. A minimum 2.0 undergraduate GPA is required for transfer applicants.
Merit-based scholarships range from $500 to $5,000 each year for incoming first-year and transfer students.
5. West Liberty University
WLU, West Virginia’s oldest institution, was founded in 1837. The university now has five schools that award bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
WLU offers a variety of bachelor’s degrees, including entrepreneurship and medical laboratory science, and students benefit from small class sizes and one-on-one time with teachers.
Distance education students can also choose from four graduate and two undergraduate programs.
Internationalization is a cornerstone of student life at WLU. The university maintains international collaborations with Polish, South Korean, and German institutions.
Additionally, students can study anywhere in the world. WLU also provides many tools for academics on how to teach courses from an international perspective.
First-year students must have completed high school and met particular course requirements. WLU uses GPA and standardized test score cutoffs. Applicants for transfer must have at least 28 transferrable credits.
To first-year and transfer students, the university offers automatic merit-based scholarships worth up to full tuition.
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6. Wheeling Jesuit University
WJU is a Roman Catholic institution that offers ten undergraduate majors, three graduate majors, and two certificates. Some online courses are available in the criminal justice, business, and psychology departments, and students can receive a degree in a hybrid style.
Students can also submit their research findings and network with peers at an annual research and scholarship symposium. A curriculum for each subject is available for prospective degree candidates to pursue.
WJU offers several student groups and support programs to enhance students’ academic success and personal growth. They encourage students to attend religious services and volunteer through the campus ministry.
In addition, counselors at the career center assist degree-seekers in exploring job opportunities and internship placements in the community.
First-year applicants must have a high school diploma and submit standardized test scores, as well as transcripts that meet WJU prerequisites.
A minimum 2.0 GPA is also required for transfer credit. WJU grants scholarships based on high school GPA and standardized test scores, with rewards ranging from $3,000 to $16,000 per year.
7. Davis & Elkins College
D&E has approximately 800 students, making it one of the smallest schools on our list. Students benefit from a 12-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio and have 46 associate and bachelor degrees to pick from.
The college also offers a fully online RN-to-BSN curriculum, which is ideal for working West Virginia registered nurses.
Students enrolled at D&E’s pre-professional programs are prepared for graduate study in dentistry, ministry, and physical therapy, among other fields.
D&E allows degree-seekers to construct a customized interdisciplinary studies program besides academic majors with a set curriculum.
Counselors assist students in developing a unique degree plan as well as providing academic and career preparation help.
Every semester, the Office of Career Services requires all students to apply for an on-campus position. This experience enhances students’ resumes and provides them with valuable skills.
D&E accepts GED scores. All degree-seekers pay the same tuition fee because it is a private college. The amount of merit-based scholarships varies, and each one requires a unique application.
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8. Fairmont State University
FSU, which was formed at the close of the Civil War, has six colleges and schools, as well as an honors program and graduate programs.
Many departments provide associate and bachelor degrees, as well as expedited master’s degrees in select cases. Furthermore, FSU’s online courses enable students to learn in a hybrid style.
FSU encourages students to be career-ready in a variety of ways. Learners can, for example, go to the school’s career services department for one-on-one help with resume writing and interview preparation.
GED and TASC results are accepted at FSU, and a minimum ACT or SAT score of 18 or 950 is required. The university prefers applicants who have completed.
The amount of institutional scholarships varies, and prospective students are not required to file a separate scholarship application. A work-study program is one of the other financial aid options.
9. University Of Charleston
UC welcomes students with a wide range of academic interests and career ambitions through its certificate, undergraduate, and graduate programs.
Applied computer science, occupational therapy, and a chemistry/biology dual major are all undergraduate disciplines that lead to in-demand employment.
Asynchronous curricula allow professionals to continue working while pursuing a degree in one of UC’s 12 online programs.
They divide student life at UC into six categories, including student groups and intramural sports. The institution offers study abroad opportunities in over 40 countries, and the school’s annual Worldfest draws students together to celebrate the diverse cultures of international students. U.S. and international students collaborate in the Global Student Organization to organize volunteer activities and cultural exchanges.
High school transcripts or GED scores, as well as standardized test scores, are required for first-year applicants. Merit-based scholarships are awarded depending on a student’s high school GPA. These awards are worth $5,000 to $20,000 per year and are renewable as long as students maintain high academic status.
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10. Ohio Valley University
On its Vienna campus, OVU, which is affiliated with the Church of Christ, educates about 400 undergraduates. The university offers BS and BA degrees in a variety of fields, including integrated marketing, education, and sports administration, and prepares students for in-demand jobs. Furthermore, lecturers provide courses from a Christian perspective.
At least once a week, all students attend religious services, and OVU is home to chapters of the Alpha Chi and Sigma Beta Delta honor organizations. On-campus dorms offer high-speed internet and security 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This West Virginia University offers student-athletes the opportunity to try out for baseball, basketball, and soccer teams, among others.
They grant applicants who provide GED results interim admission to OVU. A minimum 2.5 GPA and an ACT or SAT score of 18 or 1290 are required of high school graduates. Merit-based scholarships are available to first-year and transfer students, with grants ranging from $2,000 to full tuition.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
There are 44 colleges and Bethany College is the oldest, which is throughout the state. There are also two historically black colleges and universities, as well as two land-grant universities. Alderson Broaddus College is the most selective institution.
WVU is still not a member of the AAU, which might be a big stumbling block in their effort to join the conference. According to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, the Big Ten will consider conference expansion, but only for schools that are members of the AAU.
To get into WVU, applicants must have an above-average high school GPA. The admitted freshmen class at West Virginia University had an average high school GPA of 3.36 on a 4.0 scale, showing that most B+ students are accepted and ultimately attend.
Students admitted as freshmen must have a 3.0 high school GPA or 18 ACT composite or 870 SAT (combined Critical Reading and Math scores taken prior to March 2016) or 960 SAT composite (combined evidence-based Reading/Writing and Math scores taken after March 2016) and a 2.0 high school GPA.
Davis & Elkins ranks the most selective college.
Conclusion
Despite how small the state is, it (West Virginia) still has surprisingly a good number of colleges that offer quality education for interested persons who are residents of the state and even non-residents.
References
- https://www.bestcolleges.com/features/best-colleges-in-west-virginia/
- https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/wv
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