Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
West Virginia University is a public national university located in Morgantown, West Virginia. West Virginia University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at West Virginia University is in the top 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $51,780 10 years after enrolling, 3rd in West Virginia, and in the top 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, West Virginia University bachelor students earn 1% more than the national average. West Virginia University is ranked 1st in West Virginia.
West Virginia University’s median net annual cost of $13,355 and average years to graduate of 4.7 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at West Virginia University sorted by number of graduates - Health & Fitness, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Registered Nursing, Journalism, Mechanical Engineering, Psychology - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$13,355
Average years to graduate
4.7
Industrial Engineering
Rank: #12
Economic score: 1.15
Accounting
Rank: #54
Economic score: 1.49
Civil Engineering
Rank: #50
Economic score: 1.52
Finance
Rank: #54
Economic score: 1.8
Marketing
Rank: #36
Economic score: 1.95
Business Administration
Rank: #126
Economic score: 2.13
Physiology & Pathology
Rank: #2
Economic score: 2.17
Criminology
Rank: #22
Economic score: 3.81
Animal Sciences.
Rank: #12
Economic score: 4.58
Biology
Rank: #442
Economic score: 10.53
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at West Virginia University - Education (subject specific), Business and Commerce, Advertising & PR, Education, Therapeutic professions, Business Administration - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Accounting
Rank: #134
Economic score: 0.3
HR Management
Rank: #22
Economic score: 0.3
Registered Nursing
Rank: #202
Economic score: 0.43
Communication disorder sciences
Rank: #77
Economic score: 0.67
Public Administration
Rank: #139
Economic score: 0.78
Special Education
Rank: #221
Economic score: 0.87
Student Counseling
Rank: #151
Economic score: 0.9
Social Work
Rank: #160
Economic score: 0.92
Medical Assisting Services
Rank: #8
Economic score: 1.1
History
Rank: #42
Economic score: 1.7
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.7 years. 61% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at West Virginia University is 13% higher than the state average, and 6% below the average for all national universities in the country.
At West Virginia University, Pell Grant recipients represent 22% of the measured graduating class, 13% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at West Virginia University graduates within 4.7 years.
West Virginia University is in the bottom 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
West Virginia University’s economic mobility score of 15.21 is calculated by adjusting the 2.51 economic score of lower-income students by the 22% pell grant recipients within the student body. West Virginia University’s EMS of 15.21 ranks in the top 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 50%
The average Title IV recipient at West Virginia University pays $13,355 a year, $10,769 less than the $24,124 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $13,355
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At West Virginia University, 89% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $13,355 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 55% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $9,411. This is 1% more than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,294
Pell grants
$4,850
State grants
$4,958
Institutional grants
$8,028
West Virginia University offers 9 online bachelor programs, all of which are hybrid format. At the master’s level West Virginia University offers 18 programs, all of which are hybrid format. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
27
Hybrid programs
27
Percentage of programs online
15%
West Virginia University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 90% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 17,074 applicants, of which 15,336 were admitted and 4,313 enrolled. West Virginia University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
96%
83%
Female
50%
59%
First time
76%
59%
In-state
44%
68%
1st generation
30%
35%
White
82%
52%
Black
4%
14%
Hispanic
4%
15%
Asian
2%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
8%
12%