2025 Best Online Colleges in West Virginia
The best online colleges and universities in West Virginia offer academic excellence, cutting-edge learning platforms, and supportive communities. This guide explores the convenience, quality, and affordability at online colleges in West Virginia, helping you achieve your academic goals in the Mountain State.
Key Takeaways:
- University of Charleston has an A+ Salary Score, with graduates earning a median salary of $89,665.
- Some of the most affordable colleges in West Virginia have tuition rates as low as $8,784.
- Marshall University is highly rated by students, featuring a 93% recommendation rate.
We also include four schools in our Honorable Mentions, as these have solid infrastructure for supporting online students, with hundreds studying remotely at each one. Learn more about our selection process on our methodology page.
At a Glance:
Best by Salary Score
Salary Score assesses the median salaries of graduates, providing valuable insight into the potential long-term financial rewards of attending each institution. Our list highlights the school where alumni boast an A+ Salary Score, guaranteeing a strong return on your educational investment.
University of Charleston
Why We Like Them:
UCWV has an A+ Salary Score, which means it has exceptional median earnings of $89,665 among its graduates. This places the online school in the top 3% nationwide for highest Salary Score. This impressive earning potential underscores the university's ability to prepare you for lucrative careers, ensuring a strong return on your educational investment. Online offerings are mostly at the associate or bachelor's level, covering subjects like psychology, nursing, and organizational leadership. UCWV also has an array of online master's programs and an online doctorate in executive leadership.
What Students Say:
"Small classes make it a great place to learn and grow."
Antoinette Pigatt, Graduated 2013
Best by Affordability
In today's world, balancing cost and quality is essential for many prospective students. Our curated list highlights institutions that offer exceptional education at a price that won't break the bank. These schools are selected based on their low tuition rates — as low as $8,784. Discover the most affordable online degrees in West Virginia and take the first step toward a debt-free future.
Glenville State College
Why We Like Them:
Due to its highly affordable tuition of $8,784, Glenville ranks in the top 20% nationwide for affordability among U.S. schools. This makes it an excellent choice if you're seeking a budget-conscious option for your online education. In conjunction with this, Glenville demonstrates strong support for students requiring financial assistance, with 94% of its student body receiving financial aid. The average financial aid package offered is $8,718, which further alleviates the financial burden on students. In total, Glenville offers two online bachelor's degrees in business administration and criminal justice as well as three online associate degrees.
American Public University System
Why We Like Them:
APUS has a highly affordable tuition of $10,500. This positions it competitively when considering the quality of education provided. Complementing this is APUS's outstanding online presence, with 39,206 online students. This places APUS in the very top 1% of institutions nationwide for online enrollment, ensuring you are joining a well-established and supportive virtual community. Another notable metric is the retention rate of 90%. In terms of online degrees at APUS, it has dozens upon dozens of online associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees to choose from — seemingly covering every subject imaginable.
What Students Say:
"This has been an outstanding school to attend. The professors are wonderful and will work with you to get your goals accomplished. I would recommend this school to anyone looking for an online college."
Stephanie
West Virginia University
Why We Like Them:
WVU offers a noteworthy annual tuition of just $11,460. Additionally, a significant 97% of students receive financial aid, signifying WVU's strong commitment to making higher education accessible. We also appreciate that students report high satisfaction, with a recommendation rate of 94% for WVU. This indicates positive firsthand experiences and confidence in the education received at WVU. Finally, we like to see that you have plenty of online degrees to chose from, especially at the bachelor's level, from nursing and business administration to multidisciplinary studies.
What Students Say:
"West Virginia University is a great Research I University dedicated to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion! It has supported my journey from a homeless man to now pursuing a Ph.D.! They are making great strides in ensuring that minorities feel welcome and included."
Shaun Anderson, Graduated 2016
Highest Rated by Students
Choosing the right school involves more than just academic reputation; it's about the real experiences of students who have walked the path before you. Our pick for the top-rated online school in West Virginia stands out for its commitment to student satisfaction and success.
Marshall University
Why We Like Them:
Marshall distinguishes itself with an overall review rating of 3.85 out of 5. This high rating underscores the positive experiences and satisfaction among its online students. The recommendation rate of 93% further solidifies its reputation, indicating that a substantial majority of graduates endorse the program. Additionally, the median earnings for graduates, standing at $57,608, place Marshall in the top 34% nationally, which is a strong indicator of the program's return on investment. These figures suggest that you will benefit from both a supportive educational environment and promising career prospects upon graduation.
What Students Say:
"Marshall University is an excellent school. The professors have an aptitude for helping their students succeed as well as a strong desire to watch each of them grow. I cannot stress how satisfied I was with the program, the professors, and the students."
Christina Boland, Graduated 2019
Honorable Mention
Each school featured here offers a well-rounded educational experience that balances cost, quality, and student satisfaction. Whether you're looking for strong career prospects, supportive learning environments, or value for your investment, these colleges provide a comprehensive blend of attributes to meet your needs.
Salem University
Why We Like Them:
At the last count, Salem University has 559 students engaging in remote learning. This figure signals to us that the program has significant reach and the capacity to cater to hundreds of distance learners. Complementing this, 100% of enrolled students receive financial aid, which underscores the university's commitment to making higher education in West Virginia accessible. Salem University hosts online degrees at the associate, bachelor's, and master's level, with many options in the fields of business, health, criminal justice, and IT.
Concord University
Why We Like Them:
Hundreds of students choose to study online at Concord. We believe that its substantial online enrollment highlights the university's ability to deliver quality education in a remote format. We also like to see its strong financial support system, with 98% of students receiving financial aid. The average financial aid package stands at $11,120, providing substantial assistance to minimize financial burdens. Concord has five online undergraduate degree options, including nursing, social work, sociology, and education. It also has five online master's degrees in similar fields as well as the business and health fields.
What Students Say:
"Concord University is a small school located in southern West Virginia... I am very proud of my choice to attend the great school... Concord is often referred to as 'the little Harvard on the hill,' because of the rigorous curriculum... small class sizes allow you to have a personal relationship with your professor."
Seth, Graduated 2017
West Virginia State University
Why We Like Them:
Starting with its solid online enrollment, 433 students have opted to pursue their education remotely at WVSU. When we look at financial support, we see that 94% of students receive financial aid, highlighting the institution's commitment to making higher education accessible. The average financial aid package stands at $9,482, which helps alleviate the financial burden for most students. WVSU has online bachelor's and master's programs in subjects such as business administration, English, health sciences, and more.
What Students Say:
"I would highly recommend WV State University to anyone seeking an affordable education. The professors take time to know their students and help you to succeed...The broad variety of classes offered appeal to a diverse group of students..."
Alex, Graduated 2017
Wheeling University
Why We Like Them:
Wheeling's online enrollment of 113 students highlights its growing appeal. We like to see that it has a very low student-faculty ratio of 9:1, placing Wheeling in the top 12% nationally for offering personalized academic attention. This ensures you benefit from the focused guidance essential for excelling in your online studies. And the median earnings of $74,862 among graduates here underscores the school's ability to deliver a strong return on investment. Besides its four accelerated degree programs online, Wheeling has three online bachelor's programs, including psychology, nursing, and criminal justice. It also has three online master's programs: nursing, accountancy, and business administration.
Higher Education in West Virginia
There are 40 colleges, universities, and technical schools that grant degrees in the state of West Virginia. These include large universities, such as West Virginia University, as well as small religious colleges and career training schools.
West Virginia is home to two historically Black colleges and universities, West Virginia State University and Bluefield State University, which were both founded in the 1890s to serve Black West Virginians when racially integrated public education was illegal in the state.
Colleges in West Virginia tend to be more affordable than the average across the United States, especially for private schools. Private colleges are, on average, about $20,400 less per year than the national average sticker price. In-state students at four-year universities also tend to pay slightly less, with average tuition and fees about $1,000 lower than the national average. However, West Virginia community colleges show the opposite and are about $1,000 more expensive per year than the national average.
Online Colleges in West Virginia
There are 34 different colleges offering distance education programs in West Virginia. These colleges include massive online schools, such as the American Public University System, which serves more than 90,000 students, and small religious schools, such as Appalachian Bible College and Catholic Distance University.
Colleges in West Virginia offer online certificates, associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees. Students can choose from a wide range of majors, but some of the most popular online degrees in West Virginia are in nursing, business, healthcare, psychology, information technology, criminal justice, and education. There are also many online MBAs in West Virginia to choose from as well as MSWs in West Virginia.
Most programs in West Virginia are available fully online, though some hybrid options include in-person requirements like lab hours. When choosing an online degree, students should decide between synchronous classes with live sessions and asynchronous classes for flexible scheduling. Part-time enrollment is common to balance work and home responsibilities, though it may extend the time needed to complete the degree.
Admission requirements vary by program level: certificates, associate, and bachelor's degrees need a high school diploma or GED, while master's and doctoral programs require a bachelor's degree. Online schools typically request transcripts and may ask for essays, recommendation letters, or test scores, though the latter are less common. Accreditation is crucial, as it ensures the program is evaluated by an approved organization, which affects job prospects, credit transferability, and eligibility for federal financial aid.
FAQs About Online Colleges in West Virginia
How Many Colleges Are in West Virginia?
Based on the NCES data cited above, there are 40 accredited degree-granting colleges in West Virginia. That includes mostly four-year universities as well as some community and technical colleges.
What States Have Tuition Reciprocity with West Virginia?
West Virginia has a tuition reciprocity agreement with 14 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia are the other 14 member states of the Academic Common Market.
How Do You Get In-State Tuition in West Virginia?
While this varies depending on the school, generally students need to live in West Virginia for at least 12 months before their first classes start to qualify for in-state tuition. Therefore, those who move to West Virginia less than a year before they start college won't qualify for in-state tuition their second year. If a student's spouse or parents have lived in the state for at least a year before school starts, they may be able to qualify for in-state tuition even if they haven't been living in the state.
What Are the Best Colleges in West Virginia?
The best online colleges in West Virginia offer a blend of academic excellence, affordability, and supportive learning environments tailored to fit various student needs. Schools like the University of Charleston stand out with an A+ Salary Score and a median graduate salary of $89,665, while Glenville State College provides some of the most affordable tuition rates at $8,784. Marshall University, highly recommended by 93% of its students, exemplifies strong student satisfaction and quality education.
This guide also highlights Honorable Mentions, such as Salem University, Concord University, West Virginia State University, and Wheeling University — all of which provide solid infrastructure for supporting online students. Whether you're looking for flexibility to balance work and school, robust academic programs, or a strong community feel, West Virginia's online colleges offer options that can help you achieve your academic and professional goals.