2024 Best Grad Schools in West Virginia for Master's Degrees
It's not easy to decide which grad school to attend when you have so many options available. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Master's Degree Colleges in West Virginia ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Jump to Any of the Following Sections: * Our Methodology
Finding Your Best Grad School Match
We analyzed 11 grad schools across West Virginia to determine which have the best master's degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best grad 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
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a master's degree from the school. After all, your master's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
Average Student Debt
Graduate students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their master's so we factor that into our rankings as well.
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 Master'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.
Find out more about our graduate school ranking methodology
Customizing Your List of Rankings
If you'd rather work on your master'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.
Thinking about continuing your education further? Check out our Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking.
Top Master's Degree Schools in West Virginia
Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:
2,833
Master's Degrees Awarded
$60,867
Average Early-Career Earnings
Our 2024 rankings named American Public University System the best grad school in West Virginia in terms of overall quality for students working on their master’s degree. This large private for-profit school is located in Charles Town, West Virginia, and it awarded 2,833 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from American Military University is $60,867 during the early years of their career.
Full American Public University System Report
1,480
Master's Degrees Awarded
$53,429
Average Early-Career Earnings
A rank of #2 on our Best Master’s Degree in West Virginia list means West Virginia University is a great place for students working on their degree. WVU is located in Morgantown, West Virginia and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,480 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from WVU is $53,429 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on West Virginia University
197
Master's Degrees Awarded
$64,617
Average Early-Career Earnings
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Charleston. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in West Virginia list. UC is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Charleston, West Virginia. It awarded 197 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from UC is $64,617 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About University of Charleston
763
Master's Degrees Awarded
$47,002
Average Early-Career Earnings
A rank of #4 on our Best Master’s Degree in West Virginia list means Marshall University is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Huntington, West Virginia, the fairly large public school handed out 763 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Marshall University make an average of $47,002 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Marshall University
58
Master's Degrees Awarded
$66,773
Average Early-Career Earnings
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wheeling University. The school came in at #5 in West Virginia on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. Wheeling University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wheeling, West Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 58 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $66,773 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Wheeling University
129
Master's Degrees Awarded
$58,330
Average Early-Career Earnings
West Liberty University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking, coming in at #6. Located in West Liberty, West Virginia, the small public school handed out 129 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from West Liberty University is $58,330 during the early years of their career.
Full West Liberty University Report
104
Master's Degrees Awarded
$40,826
Average Early-Career Earnings
Concord University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in West Virginia list. Athens, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 104 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $40,826 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Concord University
50
Master's Degrees Awarded
$45,312
Average Early-Career Earnings
Shepherd University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking, coming in at #8. Shepherdstown, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Shepherd University go into careers with an average salary of $45,312 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Shepherd University
80
Master's Degrees Awarded
$40,813
Average Early-Career Earnings
Fairmont State University landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in West Virginia ranking. Located in Fairmont, West Virginia, the small public school awarded 80 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Fairmont State make an average of $40,813 a year.
Full Fairmont State University Report
54
Master's Degrees Awarded
West Virginia State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in West Virginia list. WVSU is located in Institute, West Virginia and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 54 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Learn More About West Virginia State University
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