Best value colleges for Criminal Justice in West Virginia.2026 Rankings
Choosing the right Criminal Justice program in West Virginia means weighing more than just name recognition. We analyzed 14 colleges across the state, scoring each on the metrics that matter most to long-term career success: graduation rates, post-graduation earnings, net cost, and academic rigor.
The data tells an interesting story: West Virginia University Institute of Technology leads on selectivity (61% acceptance rate), but selectivity is only one dimension of quality. Across West Virginia's Criminal Justice programs, the typical in-state price is $13,698 and the average graduation rate is 43%. Graduates of these programs earn a median of $40,736 within one year of completing their degree.
Not sure if your profile matches these schools?
The numbers above show what each school requires and costs, but they can't tell you how competitive your individual profile is against this year's applicant pool.
Drop your application data into our Free Application Review. Our AI will analyze your admission chances and stats in 2 minutes. Get practical next steps for improvements where it matters most.
Get My Free Application Review →Criminal Justice Programs in West Virginia
ranked by value score
| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great· 38 | 61% | 36% | $9,532 | $43,805 | 12:1 | 30 | 1,009 | |
| 2 | West Liberty UniversityPublic | Strong· 36 | 72% | 61% | $16,744 | $38,588 | 12:1 | 25 | 1,578 |
| 3 | Strong· 34 | 99% | 48% | $9,166 | $36,179 | 12:1 | 35 | 2,690 | |
| 4 | Marshall UniversityPublic | Strong· 34 | 96% | 49% | $7,970 | $32,747 | 15:1 | 62 | 7,149 |
| 5 | Good· 32 | 96% | 34% | $12,283 | $39,056 | 12:1 | 24 | 1,328 | |
| 6 | West Virginia UniversityPublic | Good· 32 | 86% | 61% | $12,379 | $43,805 | 17:1 | 85 | 17,705 |
| 7 | Good· 32 | 95% | 49% | $16,406 | $31,400 | 13:1 | 50 | 909 | |
| 8 | Wheeling UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 75% | 32% | $19,257 | $33,558 | 14:1 | 27 | 567 |
| 9 | Shepherd UniversityPublic | Good· 31 | 96% | 49% | $12,068 | $43,801 | 16:1 | 32 | 2,375 |
| 10 | University of CharlestonPrivate | Good· 31 | 65% | 46% | $21,133 | $55,778 | 15:1 | 23 | 2,083 |
| 11 | Average· 28 | 87% | 35% | $11,772 | $30,506 | 17:1 | 17 | 1,231 | |
| 12 | Fair· 23 | — | 53% | $7,301 | $57,409 | 25:1 | 41 | 38,976 | |
| 13 | Weak· 18 | — | 26% | $8,738 | $43,805 | 17:1 | 4 | 952 | |
| 14 | Salem UniversityPrivate | Poor· 16 | — | 27% | $15,427 | $25,665 | 16:1 | 7 | 695 |