Best value colleges for Education in West Virginia.2026 Rankings
Choosing the right Education program in West Virginia means weighing more than just name recognition. We analyzed 18 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: Davis & Elkins College leads on selectivity (58% acceptance rate), but selectivity is only one dimension of quality. Across West Virginia's Education programs, the typical in-state price is $15,353 and the average graduation rate is 43%. Graduates of these programs earn a median of $41,081 within one year of completing their degree.
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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 | $27,547 | 12:1 | 30 | 1,009 | |
| 2 | Bethany CollegePrivate | Strong· 36 | 60% | 46% | $14,911 | $31,022 | 12:1 | 31 | 642 |
| 3 | West Liberty UniversityPublic | Strong· 36 | 72% | 61% | $16,744 | $38,588 | 12:1 | 25 | 1,578 |
| 4 | Davis & Elkins CollegePrivate | Strong· 35 | 58% | 37% | $18,783 | $34,641 | 11:1 | 39 | 681 |
| 5 | Strong· 34 | 99% | 48% | $9,166 | $40,931 | 12:1 | 35 | 2,690 | |
| 6 | Marshall UniversityPublic | Strong· 34 | 96% | 49% | $7,970 | $40,057 | 15:1 | 62 | 7,149 |
| 7 | Concord UniversityPublic | Good· 33 | 90% | 42% | $10,904 | $34,408 | 15:1 | 26 | 1,394 |
| 8 | Good· 32 | 96% | 34% | $12,283 | $42,197 | 12:1 | 24 | 1,328 | |
| 9 | West Virginia UniversityPublic | Good· 32 | 86% | 61% | $12,379 | $43,805 | 17:1 | 85 | 17,705 |
| 10 | Good· 32 | 95% | 49% | $16,406 | $32,559 | 13:1 | 50 | 909 | |
| 11 | Wheeling UniversityPrivate | Good· 32 | 75% | 32% | $19,257 | $33,558 | 14:1 | 27 | 567 |
| 12 | Shepherd UniversityPublic | Good· 31 | 96% | 49% | $12,068 | $46,549 | 16:1 | 32 | 2,375 |
| 13 | University of CharlestonPrivate | Good· 31 | 65% | 46% | $21,133 | $55,778 | 15:1 | 23 | 2,083 |
| 14 | Average· 28 | 87% | 35% | $11,772 | $48,438 | 17:1 | 17 | 1,231 | |
| 15 | Fair· 23 | — | 53% | $7,301 | $51,381 | 25:1 | 41 | 38,976 | |
| 16 | Fair· 22 | — | 35% | $16,460 | $34,550 | 15:1 | 16 | 1,177 | |
| 17 | Weak· 21 | — | 31% | $4,538 | $35,543 | 15:1 | 6 | 1,692 | |
| 18 | Salem UniversityPrivate | Poor· 16 | — | 27% | $15,427 | $45,415 | 16:1 | 7 | 695 |