List of colleges and universities in West Virginia

There are thirty-seven colleges and universities in the U.S. state of West Virginia that are listed under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. These institutions include two research universities, five master's universities, and fourteen baccalaureate colleges, as well as twenty-one associate's colleges. In addition, there are three institutions classified as special-focus institutions.

West Virginia's oldest surviving post-secondary institution is Bethany College, founded on March 2, 1840, by Alexander Campbell. Marshall University and West Liberty University were both established in 1837, but as private subscription schools. Founded in 1867, West Virginia University is the state's largest public institution of higher learning in terms of enrollment, as it had 23,643 students as of fall 2024. Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College is the state's smallest, with an enrollment of 465. With an enrollment of 3,062 students, the University of Charleston is West Virginia's largest traditional private post-secondary institution, while Future Generations University is the state's smallest, with an enrollment of 48. The American Public University System, a private for-profit, distance education institution based in Charles Town, has the largest enrollment of any post-secondary institution in West Virginia, with 50,715 students. Catholic Distance University, a fully online non-profit university in Charles Town, educates undergraduate students in Liberal Arts and theology and graduate students in theology and educational ministry.

West Virginia has two land-grant universities: West Virginia State University and West Virginia University. West Virginia University is also the state's sole participant university in the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. In addition, West Virginia has two historically black colleges and universities that are members of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund: Bluefield State University and West Virginia State University.

West Virginia has three medical schools: Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, and West Virginia University School of Medicine. It has one law school, West Virginia University College of Law, which is accredited by the American Bar Association. The majority (thirty-two) of West Virginia's post-secondary institutions are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Most are accredited by multiple agencies or have specific programs or units accredited by agency, including by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Institutions

School Location Control Type Enrollment(Fall 2024) Founded AccreditationAmerican Public University SystemCharles TownPrivate for-profitMaster's university 50,715 1991CCNE, CEPH, HLCAppalachian Bible CollegeMount HopePrivate not-for-profitSpecial-focus institution 223 1950ABHE, HLCBethany CollegeBethanyPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college 640 1840HLCBlue Ridge Community and Technical CollegeMartinsburgPublicAssociate's college 4,203 1974ACEN, APTA, HLCBluefield State UniversityBluefieldPublicBaccalaureate college 1,141 1895ACEN, CCNE, JRCERT, HLCBridgeValley Community and Technical College South Charleston and MontgomeryPublicAssociate's college 1,927 1953ACEN, HLCCatholic International UniversityCharles TownPrivate not-for-profitMaster's university 230 1983DEAC, HLC, ATSUniversity of CharlestonCharlestonPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral/Professional university 3,062 1888ACEN, ACPE, AOTA, JRCERT, HLCConcord UniversityAthensPublicMaster's university 1,943 1872CCNE, HLCDavis & Elkins CollegeElkinsPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college 661 1904ACEN, CNEA, HLCEastern West Virginia Community and Technical CollegeMoorefieldPublicAssociate's college 465 1999ACEN, HLCFairmont State UniversityFairmontPublicMaster's university 3,305 1865ACEN, CCNE, HLCFuture Generations UniversityFranklinPrivate not-for-profitSpecial focus institution 48 2003HLCGlenville State UniversityGlenvillePublicBaccalaureate college 1,765 1872HLCHuntington Junior CollegeHuntingtonPrivate for-profitSpecial focus institution 182 1936HLCMarshall UniversityHuntingtonPublicResearch university 11,958 1837ACEN, AND, APTA, APA, ASHA, CEPH, LCME, NASM, HLCMountwest Community and Technical CollegeHuntingtonPublicAssociate's college 1,520 1975APTA, HLCNew River Community and Technical CollegeBeckleyPublicAssociate's college 1,571 2003ACEN, APTA, HLCPierpont Community and Technical CollegeFairmontPublicAssociate's college 1,938 1974AND, APTA, HLCPotomac State College of West Virginia UniversityKeyserPublicAssociate's college 1,077 1901HLCSalem UniversitySalemPrivate for-profitMaster's university 1,083 1888CNEA, HLCShepherd UniversityShepherdstownPublicMaster's university 3,339 1871ACEN, AND, CCNE, NASM, HLCSouthern West Virginia Community and Technical CollegeMount GayPublicAssociate's college 1,482 1971ACEN, ADA, JRCERT, HLCValley CollegeBeckley and MartinsburgPrivate for-profitAssociate's college 930 1983ACEN, ACCSCWest Liberty UniversityWest LibertyPublicMaster's university 2,299 1837ACEN, ADA, ASHA, CCNE, NASM, HLCWest Virginia Junior College–BridgeportBridgeportPrivate for-profitSpecial focus institution 146 1922ACEN, ABHESWest Virginia Junior College–CharlestonCross LanesPrivate for-profitAssociate's college 394 1892ACEN, ABHESWest Virginia Junior College–MorgantownMorgantownPrivate for-profitAssociate's college 673 1922ACEN, ABHESWest Virginia Northern Community CollegeWheelingPublicAssociate's college 1,525 1972ACEN, JRCERT, HLCWest Virginia School of Osteopathic MedicineLewisburgPublicSpecial-focus institution 835 1972AOA, HLCWest Virginia State UniversityInstitutePublicMaster's university 3,246 1891CCNE, HLCWest Virginia UniversityMorgantownPublicResearch university 23,643 1867ACPE, ABA, ADA, AND, AOTA, APTA, APA, ASHA, CCNE, CEA, CEPH, COA, LCME, NASAD, NASM, NAST, HLCWest Virginia University at ParkersburgParkersburgPublicBaccalaureate college 2,728 1961ACEN, HLCWest Virginia University Institute of TechnologyBeckleyPublicBaccalaureate college 1,278 1895HLCWest Virginia Wesleyan CollegeBuckhannonPrivate not-for-profitBaccalaureate college 1,055 1890ACEN, CCNE, HLCWheeling UniversityWheelingPrivate not-for-profitMaster's university 774 1954APTA, CCNE, HLC

+ Key Abbreviation Accrediting agencyABAAmerican Bar AssociationABHESAccrediting Bureau of Health Education SchoolsACENAccreditation Commission for Education in NursingACCSCAccrediting Commission of Career Schools and CollegesADAAmerican Dietetic AssociationAOAAmerican Osteopathic AssociationACICSAccrediting Council for Independent Colleges and SchoolsACPEAccreditation Council for Pharmacy EducationADAAmerican Dental AssociationANDAcademy of Nutrition and DieteticsAOTAAmerican Occupational Therapy AssociationAPTAAmerican Physical Therapy AssociationAPAAmerican Psychological AssociationASHAAmerican Speech–Language–Hearing AssociationABHEAssociation for Biblical Higher EducationCCNECommission on Collegiate Nursing EducationCEACommission on English Language Program AccreditationCEPHCouncil on Education for Public HealthCNEACommission for Nurse Education AccreditationCOACouncil on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational ProgramsJRCERTJoint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic TechnologyLCMELiaison Committee on Medical EducationNASADNational Association of Schools of Art and DesignNASMNational Association of Schools of MusicNASTNational Association of Schools of TheatreHLCHigher Learning CommissionNCATENational Council for Accreditation of Teacher EducationTEACTeacher Education Accreditation Council

Defunct institutions School Location Control Founded Closed Ref(s)Alderson Broaddus UniversityPhilippi Private not-for-profit 1871 2023 Everest Institute–Cross LanesCross LanesPrivate for-profit19682014 Greenbrier College Lewisburg Private 1812 1972 Greenbrier Military School Lewisburg Private 1812 1972 Mountain State University Beckley Private not-for-profit 1933 2013 Ohio Valley UniversityViennaPrivate not-for-profit 1958 2021 Rector College Pruntytown Church affiliated, not-for-profit 1839 1855 Storer College Harpers Ferry Church affiliated, not-for-profit; limited state support 1867 1955 Valley College–PrincetonPrincetonPrivate for-profit 1983 2023 West Virginia Business College–WheelingWheelingPrivate for-profit 1881 2017 West Virginia CollegeFlemingtonPrivate not-for-profit 1865 (opened)1868 (established by the legislature) 1895

See also Higher education in the United States List of college athletic programs in West Virginia List of recognized higher education accreditation organizations Lists of American institutions of higher education

References Explanatory notes

Citations

Bibliography

External links United States Department of Education listing of accredited institutions in West Virginia