West Virginia State University — College Profile

About

Founded in 1891 as a historically Black land-grant institution, West Virginia State University (WVSU) holds a unique place in American higher education as an HBCU that evolved into a racially integrated, highly diverse campus often called a "living laboratory of human relations." Academically, the university is recognized for strong programs in business administration, criminal justice, education, and biotechnology research, alongside a prestigious Army ROTC program that has produced more general officers than any other institution of its size. Situated just outside Charleston along the Kanawha River, WVSU offers a tight-knit, accessible student experience characterized by small class sizes, active NCAA Division II athletics, and deep ties to community and regional workforce development.

Wikipedia:West Virginia State University (WVSU) is a public historically black, land-grant university in Institute, West Virginia, United States. Founded in 1891 as the West Virginia Colored Institute. It is one of the original 19 land-grant colleges and universities established by the second Morrill Act of 1890, which evolved as a diverse and inclusive campus. Following desegregation, WVSU's student population slowly became more white than black. As of 2017, WVSU's student body was 75% white and only 8% African-American.

Location

Institute, WV, 25112-1000 · Suburb campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

CMH · Columbus

127 mi away

Open in Google Maps View official campus map

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$9,570$14,990

Housing & food (on campus)$13,522$13,522

Books & supplies$1,206$1,206

Cost of attendance$25,354$30,799

Average net price$11,139Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$14,990

In-state: $9,570

Housing & food (on campus)$13,522

Books & supplies$1,206

Cost of attendance$30,799

In-state: $25,354

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $11,139

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: wvstateu.edu

How it’s made up · out-of-state

Tuition$14,990

Housing$10,718

Books & supplies$1,290

Personal expenses$2,390

Transportation$1,340

Total published by the school$30,799

Source: wvstateu.edu

See how the in-state total ($25,354) is made up

How it’s made up · in-state

Tuition$9,570

Housing$10,718

Books & supplies$1,290

Personal expenses$2,365

Transportation$1,340

Total published by the school$25,354

Source: wvstateu.edu

Net price by family income · in-state students

$0–30k

$9,457

$30–48k

$10,225

$48–75k

$10,703

$75–110k

$13,798

$110k+

$17,355

Your family's actual price → West Virginia State University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Grants from the school

58% of first-years get a grant from the school, averaging $5,008

Source: College Navigator (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS)

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

36%

Within 4 yrs

30%

Back for yr 2

57%

Transferred

14%

Pell students: 34.6% · others: 45.8%

8 yrs after starting

33% graduated · 19% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 48% left or unknown

Earnings

6 yrs after entry$32,849

10 yrs after entry$40,492

Debt

Median at graduation$23,338

Monthly payment$247

Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$23.5k

90th percentile$36,918

Admissions

Getting in

Admit rate

96%

Test policy

Test optional

SAT average

955

R 410–550 · M 350–490

SAT middle 50%: 760–1040

40080012001600

Admitted students

Admit rate: men 92.1% · women 98.1%

Yield: 5.5% of admitted students enroll

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Essay prompts

If West Virginia State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 45%Women 55%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

13 : 1

Pell grant

20%

First-gen

43%

Family income

$30,715

Independent

29%

Age at entry

22.0

Part-time

Where first-years come from

In state (WV)

63.5%

Out of state

32.2%

International

4.3%

Most out-of-state first-years from: MD 22 · OH 13 · VA 8 · DC 7 · KY 7

Race & ethnicity

White

62%

Hispanic

Black

20%

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division II with football

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's
Other Sports
Women's
Soccer
Women's
Softball
Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs

After 6 yrs

$32,849

After 10 yrs

$40,492

Business Administration, Management and Operations74

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities34

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods25

Criminal Justice and Corrections25

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness21

Biology, General13

Social Work13

Psychology, General11

Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other9

Communication and Media Studies7

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing7

English Language and Literature, General6

Economics5

Political Science and Government5

History5

Chemistry4

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$13M

Full-time faculty

67%

Faculty salary

$7,141/mo

Teaching spend

$4,417

per student

Federal loans

18%

Classification

Carnegie type

Master's (small programs)

Research activity

Research college or university

$6M research spending

Undergraduate profile