West Virginia Best College Rankings
Marshall University ranked first and West Liberty University ranked second in West Virginia college rankings. The 2025 average tuition & fees of the West Virginia best colleges is $13,821 for West Virginia residents and $20,871 for out-of-state students. The average acceptance rate is 84.94% and the average SAT score is 1,004. The average number of student population is 8,834 and the average student to faculty ratio is 16 to 1.
Below statements summarize the average statistics of tuition, admission, and more academic factors for West Virginia best colleges. For the statistics, we only include 4 years colleges such as national universities and liberal arts colleges.
- The average undergraduate tuition & fees is $20,871 and Bethany College has the highest tuition & fees of $36,102 and American Public University System has the lowest tuition & fees of $8,400.
- The average graduate tuition & fees is $15,920 and West Virginia University has the highest tuition & fees of $29,538 and Wheeling University has the lowest tuition & fees of $6,260.
- The average SAT score is 1,004 and West Virginia University has the highest SAT score of 1,110 and West Virginia State University has the lowest score of 930.
- The average acceptance rate is 84.94% and Bethany College has the tightest (lowest) rate of 59% and Fairmont State University has the loosest (lowest) rate of 99%.
- The average student population is 8,834 and American Public University System has the most students of 50,715 and Bethany College has the fewest students of 640.
- The average graduation rate is 45.17% and West Virginia University has the highest rate of 65% and Salem University has the lowest rate of 20%.
West Virginia Best Colleges Comparison
The below table compares the 12 best colleges in West Virginia with important academic factors. You can sort the table by touching/clicking a column name that you want to sort.
| Rank | College Name | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | Graduate Tuition & Fees | SAT Score | Acceptance Rate | Population | Graduation Rate | Student to Faculty Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marshall University Huntington, WV | $20,342 | $22,192 | 1,040 | 95.7% | 11,958 | 51% | 16 to 1 |
| 2 | West Liberty University West Liberty, WV | $17,442 | $15,000 | 1,000 | 97.3% | 2,299 | 60% | 12 to 1 |
| 3 | University of Charleston Charleston, WV | $22,617 | $17,729 | - | 61.5% | 3,062 | 46% | 15 to 1 |
| 4 | Shepherd University Shepherdstown, WV | $19,082 | $13,316 | 1,025 | 96.8% | 3,339 | 51% | 17 to 1 |
| 5 | Wheeling University Wheeling, WV | $29,875 | $6,260 | - | 63.2% | 774 | 23% | 15 to 1 |
| 6 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WV | $28,608 | $29,538 | 1,110 | 89.0% | 23,643 | 65% | 19 to 1 |
| 7 | Bethany College Bethany, WV | $36,102 | $12,390 | - | 58.8% | 640 | 47% | 12 to 1 |
| 8 | American Public University System Charles Town, WV | $8,400 | $8,700 | - | - | 50,715 | 57% | 25 to 1 |
| 9 | Fairmont State University Fairmont, WV | $18,924 | $21,486 | 975 | 98.6% | 3,305 | 44% | 14 to 1 |
| 10 | West Virginia State University Institute, WV | $14,990 | $20,990 | 930 | 96.0% | 3,246 | 39% | 13 to 1 |
| 11 | Salem University Salem, WV | $12,070 | $12,070 | - | - | 1,083 | 20% | 19 to 1 |
| 12 | Concord University Athens, WV | $22,000 | $11,370 | 950 | 92.6% | 1,943 | 39% | 16 to 1 |
| Average | $20,871 | $15,920 | 1,004 | 84.9% | 8,834 | 45% | 16 to 1 |
West Virginia Colleges by Ranking and School Type