2025 Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in West Virginia
There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top West Virginia Colleges for a Bachelor's ranking - to help you make that decision.
Jump to Any of the Following Sections: * Our Methodology
Your Choice of School Matters
We analyzed 16 colleges and universities across West Virginia to determine which ones have the best bachelor's degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
Early-Career Earnings
Average early-career salary of those graduating with a bachelor's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue a degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.
Average Student Debt
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that students take on while pursuing their bachelor's degree.
The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking.
Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best schools ranking methodology page.
Check Out These Other Rankings
If you'd rather work on your bachelor's degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our
rankings by place. In addition, we've put together a number of other
college rankings that may help you in your search.
Top Bachelor's Degree Schools in West Virginia
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
7,010
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$53,948
Average Early-Career Earnings
$8,400
Average Student Debt
American Public University System tops this year’s ranking as the best school for bachelor’s degrees in West Virginia for overall quality. American Military University is a large private for-profit school situated in Charles Town, West Virginia. It awarded 7,010 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $53,948 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $8,400 after getting their degree.
Full American Public University System Report
4,438
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$45,188
Average Early-Career Earnings
$41,356
Average Student Debt
A rank of #2 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in West Virginia list means West Virginia University is a great place for students working on their degree. West Virginia University is a large public school located in Morgantown, West Virginia that handed out 4,438 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from WVU make an average of $45,188 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $41,356 in student loans.
Read full report on West Virginia University
185
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$46,547
Average Early-Career Earnings
A rank of #3 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in West Virginia list means West Virginia University at Parkersburg is a great place for students working on their degree. West Virginia University at Parkersburg is a small public school located in Parkersburg, West Virginia that handed out 185 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $46,547 during the early years of their career.
Full West Virginia University at Parkersburg Report
1,449
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$41,100
Average Early-Career Earnings
$14,609
Average Student Debt
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Marshall University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in West Virginia. Huntington, West Virginia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,449 students in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Marshall University go into careers with an average salary of $41,100 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $14,609 in student loans.
Learn More About Marshall University
100
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$38,212
Average Early-Career Earnings
A rank of #5 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in West Virginia list means Wheeling University is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Wheeling, West Virginia, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 100 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Wheeling University make an average of $38,212 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Wheeling University
589
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$53,005
Average Early-Career Earnings
With a ranking of #6, University of Charleston did quite well on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in West Virginia list. Located in Charleston, West Virginia, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 589 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UC is $53,005 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About University of Charleston
189
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$50,754
Average Early-Career Earnings
$41,486
Average Student Debt
West Virginia University Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking, coming in at #7. West Virginia University Tech is a public institution located in Beckley, West Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 189 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University Tech go into careers with an average salary of $50,754 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $41,486 in student loans.
Learn More About West Virginia University Institute of Technology
583
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$39,276
Average Early-Career Earnings
$27,954
Average Student Debt
Shepherd University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in West Virginia list. Shepherd University is a small public school located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia that handed out 583 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Shepherd University is $39,276 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $27,954 in student loans.
Learn More About Shepherd University
233
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$29,117
Average Early-Career Earnings
West Virginia Wesleyan College landed the #9 spot on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking. West Virginia Wesleyan is a private not-for-profit institution located in Buckhannon, West Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 233 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $29,117 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About West Virginia Wesleyan College
592
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$44,164
Average Early-Career Earnings
$17,746
Average Student Debt
Fairmont State University did quite well in the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking, coming in at #10. Fairmont, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 592 students in 2021-2022.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Fairmont State is $44,164 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $17,746 in student loans.
Full Fairmont State University Report
412
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$41,866
Average Early-Career Earnings
$18,690
Average Student Debt
West Liberty University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking. Located in West Liberty, West Virginia, the small public school awarded 412 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from West Liberty University make an average of $41,866 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $18,690 in student loans.
Full West Liberty University Report
132
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$35,750
Average Early-Career Earnings
$13,101
Average Student Debt
Salem University did quite well in the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking, coming in at #12. Salem is located in Salem, West Virginia and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 132 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Salem is $35,750 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $13,101.
Full Salem University Report
325
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$31,874
Average Early-Career Earnings
Concord University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in West Virginia list. Located in Athens, West Virginia, the small public school awarded 325 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Concord University make an average of $31,874 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Concord University
142
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$42,312
Average Early-Career Earnings
With a ranking of #14, Bluefield State College did quite well on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in West Virginia list. Located in Bluefield, West Virginia, the small public school awarded 142 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $42,312 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Bluefield State College
334
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$35,840
Average Early-Career Earnings
$11,998
Average Student Debt
West Virginia State University did quite well in the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking, coming in at #15. WVSU is a public institution located in Institute, West Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 334 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from WVSU make an average of $35,840 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $11,998 in student loans.
Learn More About West Virginia State University
