West Virginia Colleges

More than 75 post secondary education institutions are located in the Mountain State, West Virginia. While Wheeling is just across the state lines from the metropolitan area of Pittsburgh, most of the state lies below the Mason-Dixon line and is considered part of the South. Charleston, the largest city and the state’s capital, is home to one of the top-ranked colleges in West Virginia, West Virginia University, a historically black, public land-grant university. The most notable private school is West Virginia Wesleyan College, a liberal art school associated with the United Methodist Church. West Virginia State University is also a popular choice among the West Virginia colleges along with Marshall University - Huntington located in another top city Huntington. Throughout the state you’ll find many community colleges for students seeking 2-year degree opportunities including West Virginia Northern Community College, which has three campuses in the state.

West Virginia College and Degree Offering

Finding quality programs in West Virginia is no problem, regardless of the type of degree level you’re interested in. The more than 75 West Virginia colleges offer educations from the certificate program level to the masters degree level. Top-ranked private university West Virginia Wesleyan College provides liberal art educations to students interested in a prestigious and well-rounded degree. On the public side, the flagship of colleges in West Virginia—West Virginia University—offers a long list of bachelors degree programs ranging from Accounting to Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology. Students who have a very specific career in mind can pursue a 2-year career training degree or earn an associates degree at one of the many community colleges in West Virginia.

West Virginia Career Opportunities

West Virginia is a state that has both mountainous terrain and vast river valleys and the options for pursuing jobs in the state after attending one of the West Virginia colleges are just as varied. The percentage of adults with a bachelors degree in West Virginia is one of the lowest in the country, so getting a 4-year education can put you in a prime position to get a top career in the state. For example, graduates of business colleges in West Virginia will find jobs at every level from Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science up to Business Administration and Management with careers in Accounting & Related Services also popular. For those who choose a 2-year education, career opportunities abound as well. The largest working groups in West Virginia are in the skilled trades such as Welding Technology/Welder and healthcare technology such as Surgical Technologist. Other health care professionals are in demand as well including Medical/Clinical Assistant, Healthcare Administration and Mental & Social Health Services.