Best Online Colleges in West Virginia 2023

Published: Jan 4, 2022
Updated: Sep 8, 2023

Find the best online colleges in West Virginia ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs.

Top 10 Online Colleges in West Virginia

Marshall University
West Virginia State University
University of Charleston
West Liberty University
Potomac State College of West Virginia University
Concord University
Alderson Broaddus University
Catholic Distance University
Davis & Elkins College
Glenville State University

Marshall University 98%
West Virginia State University 97%
Concord University 96%
Davis & Elkins College 78%
West Liberty University 74%
University of Charleston 70%
Alderson Broaddus University 67%

Potomac State College of West Virginia University 18 to 1
Marshall University 18 to 1
Glenville State University 17 to 1
University of Charleston 16 to 1
Concord University 16 to 1
Alderson Broaddus University 14 to 1
Davis & Elkins College 12 to 1
West Virginia State University 12 to 1
West Liberty University 11 to 1
Catholic Distance University 4 to 1

University of Charleston $31,350
Alderson Broaddus University $30,020
Davis & Elkins College $29,960
Catholic Distance University $8,405
West Liberty University $8,354
West Virginia State University $8,308
Concord University $8,130
Glenville State University $7,886
Marshall University $7,190
Potomac State College of West Virginia University $4,632

Alderson Broaddus University $29,000
University of Charleston $16,000
Concord University $8,730
West Virginia State University $8,636
Catholic Distance University $8,370
Marshall University $7,520
West Liberty University $6,786

Glenville State University
Davis & Elkins College
Catholic Distance University
Alderson Broaddus University
Concord University
Potomac State College of West Virginia University
West Liberty University
University of Charleston
West Virginia State University
Marshall University

Alderson Broaddus University 67%
University of Charleston 70%
West Liberty University 74%
Davis & Elkins College 78%
Concord University 96%
West Virginia State University 97%
Marshall University 98%

Catholic Distance University 4 to 1
West Liberty University 11 to 1
Davis & Elkins College 12 to 1
West Virginia State University 12 to 1
Alderson Broaddus University 14 to 1
University of Charleston 16 to 1
Concord University 16 to 1
Glenville State University 17 to 1
Potomac State College of West Virginia University 18 to 1
Marshall University 18 to 1

Potomac State College of West Virginia University $4,632
Marshall University $7,190
Glenville State University $7,886
Concord University $8,130
West Virginia State University $8,308
West Liberty University $8,354
Catholic Distance University $8,405
Davis & Elkins College $29,960
Alderson Broaddus University $30,020
University of Charleston $31,350

West Liberty University $6,786
Marshall University $7,520
Catholic Distance University $8,370
West Virginia State University $8,636
Concord University $8,730
University of Charleston $16,000
Alderson Broaddus University $29,000

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in West Virginia

West Virginia has 20 public higher education institutions, all at a sticker price of $9,000 or less, making it one of the more affordable states to earn a degree. With over 25,000 students in attendance, West Virginia University is the largest and charges $9,000 in tuition. Aside from the community and state colleges, six other public universities have populations ranging from about 2,100 to just over 10,000, and all schools have a tuition rate of about $8,000.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

The state is also home to 12 private schools, eight of which are religiously affiliated. The University of Charleston is the largest private university, but its student population is still small. About 2,000 students take classes in fields such as chemistry, political science, and history, and the tuition totals $21,000. At $32,000 in tuition and fees, West Virginia Wesleyan College is the most expensive, but its student population is only slightly above 1,300.

As the only state contained entirely within the Appalachian range, West Virginia is rightfully nicknamed The Mountain State. Those who love the outdoors will feel at home hiking through the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve or skiing at Canaan Valley Ski Resort. History buffs can visit Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, where they can take a walk through life in the 1800s. In addition, the state offers over 30 private and public colleges and universities to those looking to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.

Check out the state’s top programs and see why West Virginia could be a good fit for your educational goals and budget.

What are West Virginia’s Colleges & Universities?

West Virginia’s Best Overall

Online education has grown dramatically in quality, credibility, and popularity over the last two decades. Today, more than a quarter of all college students are taking at least one online course. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are more than 5 million college students who are pursuing their undergraduate degree fully online. And the number of online college and graduate students continues to grow as online technology and instructional methods improve.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to remote learning has proven an essential part of the educational ecosystem. Schools that offer primarily online degree programs saw an increase of 7% enrollment just between Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. The number of traditional institutions offering online courses and degrees is growing as well. This all paints a promising picture for the future of online education. But it also produces a dizzying array of options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Online Colleges 2022

Asynchronous learning means classes don’t meet at set times. This is the most flexible online learning experience, making when you cover your course material up to you. Most asynchronous online courses will still have deadlines throughout the semester for various assignments and tests. Some asynchronous classes may still ask for an occasional meeting, such as initial meet-and-greets, and in some cases there may be scheduled test times. The idea of asynchronous learning is to allow the student to manage their schedules as needed.

Synchronous learning means you will have scheduled meeting times for your online classes. Synchronous learning gives online students the flexibility of location while also giving students a chance to engage with each other and their professors. For many online students, the structured class schedules and ability to see and hear from peers in real-time helps create the learning experience they want.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities—educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

How do we determine the best online colleges for undergrads?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Median Salaries of Top Careers in West Virginia

The following graph depicts the average salaries of top occupations in different industries in West Virginia.

Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Annual Salary

86700Personal Financial Advisors

95060Database Architects

98500Physical Scientists, All Other

109690Computer Hardware Engineers

180700Chief Executives

Best Online Colleges in West Virginia 2023

Top 10 Online Colleges in West Virginia

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in West Virginia

What are West Virginia’s Colleges & Universities?

West Virginia’s Best Overall

Median Salaries of Top Careers in West Virginia

Best Online Colleges in West Virginia 2022

Marshall University

Online Degrees

Emphasis Areas

West Virginia State University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concord University

Online Degrees

Potomac State College of West Virginia University

Online Degrees

West Liberty University

Online Degrees

Glenville State University

Online Degrees

Davis & Elkins College

Online Degrees

University of Charleston

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Alderson Broaddus University

Online Degrees

Catholic Distance University

Online Degrees