Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at West Virginia University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 40% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 80th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (WV wage index 0.71). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at West Virginia University
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | $85,897 | $109,619 | +8% | #3 of 7 | #1 | $24,903 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $79,662 | $99,542 | -1% | #114 of 258 | #17 | $22,221 |
| Industrial Engineering | $75,606 | $99,180 | +1% | #41 of 94 | #6 | $25,048 |
| Computer Engineering | $76,314 | $99,048 | -9% | #127 of 189 | #48 | $23,000 |
| Computer Science | $74,159 | $98,277 | -8% | #183 of 349 | #85 | $23,026 |
| Chemical Engineering | $69,875 | $96,503 | -2% | #83 of 158 | #18 | $22,354 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $62,127 | $95,324 | +14% | #34 of 166 | #13 | $20,898 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $72,210 | $94,750 | -4% | #37 of 59 | #6 | $27,242 |
| Petroleum Engineering | $68,913 | $91,142 | -13% | #18 of 19 | #13 | $26,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $71,504 | $90,461 | -2% | #176 of 318 | #26 | $26,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $71,298 | $83,750 | -6% | #578 of 966 | #169 | $23,000 |
| Civil Engineering | $67,062 | $82,117 | -5% | #159 of 233 | #15 | $22,250 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $65,223 | $79,805 | -14% | #298 of 459 | #179 | — |
| Mathematics | — | $77,144 | +11% | #105 of 309 | #37 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $48,645 | $76,959 | -8% | #233 of 452 | #107 | $24,242 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $57,102 | $76,662 | +13% | #15 of 76 | #2 | $26,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $51,824 | $76,135 | +-0% | #329 of 796 | #125 | $22,250 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $63,522 | $76,034 | +0% | #41 of 93 | #12 | $24,573 |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $47,232 | $75,022 | +34% | #2 of 29 | #1 | $22,239 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $49,634 | $73,646 | +8% | #267 of 1176 | #72 | $25,000 |
| Landscape Architecture | — | $70,646 | +6% | #5 of 19 | #1 | — |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $24,463 | $70,165 | +13% | #15 of 64 | #3 | $21,187 |
| Marketing | $42,058 | $69,357 | +0% | #199 of 516 | #64 | $22,777 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $30,363 | $68,473 | +21% | #16 of 137 | #2 | $25,300 |
| Economics | — | $68,380 | -17% | #290 of 368 | #147 | — |
| Business/Managerial Economics | — | $68,161 | -13% | #65 of 84 | #42 | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $36,382 | $66,798 | +11% | #41 of 138 | #7 | $22,719 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $37,779 | $66,022 | -1% | #34 of 77 | #12 | $23,796 |
| Business/Commerce | $42,298 | $65,372 | -4% | #119 of 271 | #45 | $25,262 |
| Public Health | $37,256 | $64,888 | +10% | #45 of 215 | #14 | $22,045 |
| Forestry | $43,228 | $64,568 | +10% | #8 of 31 | #2 | $20,500 |
| Security Science and Technology | $44,255 | $62,455 | +8% | #16 of 45 | #8 | $24,121 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs | $38,660 | $61,411 | +11% | #10 of 22 | #1 | $24,478 |
| Journalism | $34,075 | $58,454 | +4% | #68 of 187 | #12 | $24,188 |
| Biology | $25,086 | $57,486 | +0% | #434 of 841 | #113 | $20,500 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $30,145 | $57,359 | +5% | #176 of 610 | #52 | $24,916 |
| Geography and Cartography | $34,435 | $57,075 | -1% | #68 of 117 | #22 | $23,089 |
| Philosophy | — | $57,041 | +5% | #42 of 86 | #12 | — |
| Political Science and Government | $30,286 | $56,969 | -10% | #398 of 565 | #148 | $21,431 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $34,883 | $56,132 | +6% | #155 of 476 | #40 | $20,180 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $39,847 | $55,669 | +8% | #119 of 299 | #39 | $25,000 |
| Sociology | $34,063 | $54,596 | +4% | #174 of 462 | #24 | $22,250 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | — | $54,252 | -8% | #165 of 215 | #60 | $23,840 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | $30,002 | $53,836 | -3% | #122 of 207 | #43 | $23,677 |
| Animal Sciences | $31,103 | $52,548 | +6% | #25 of 78 | #4 | $19,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $41,214 | $51,537 | +9% | #184 of 680 | #21 | $24,121 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $27,547 | $51,403 | +0% | #165 of 345 | #31 | $24,250 |
| Psychology | $28,879 | $51,263 | +1% | #444 of 1027 | #85 | $22,500 |
| Plant Sciences | $37,454 | $50,249 | -11% | #35 of 44 | #20 | $25,000 |
| Social Work | $34,344 | $50,130 | -3% | #267 of 420 | #42 | $24,778 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The West Virginia University Town Property Report
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 15474 (8.8% cap, Point Marion)
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🏆 Where West Virginia University Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $9,648 | $27,360 |
| Room | $7,976 | |
| Board | $5,900 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $27,644 | $45,356 |
Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $9,217 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,199 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,379 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,708 |
| $110,001+ | $17,130 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from West Virginia University's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at West Virginia University?
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Is West Virginia University a good school?
- Outcomes (B+): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (C): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
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🎓 Similar Colleges to West Virginia University
Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology