Best Online Master’s Programs in West Virginia 2024

Badge for BEST ONLINE MASTER'S IN VIRGINIA

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Academic Influence Staff

Published: May 11, 2022
Updated: Feb 6, 2024

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. Faculty and alumni with influential ideas are the foundation of respectable online degree programs employers can trust.

Top 10 Online Master's Programs in West Virginia

West Virginia University
Marshall University
West Virginia State University
University of Charleston
West Liberty University
Fairmont State University
Shepherd University
Concord University
Salem University
Wheeling University

West Virginia University
Marshall University
West Virginia State University
University of Charleston
Fairmont State University
West Liberty University
Shepherd University
Concord University
Wheeling University
Salem University

Fairmont State University 98%
Marshall University 97%
West Virginia State University 96%
Shepherd University 96%
Concord University 91%
West Virginia University 88%
West Liberty University 74%
Wheeling University 73%
University of Charleston 68%

West Virginia University 17 to 1
University of Charleston 16 to 1
Marshall University 16 to 1
West Virginia State University 16 to 1
Concord University 15 to 1
Shepherd University 15 to 1
Salem University 14 to 1
Fairmont State University 13 to 1
West Liberty University 12 to 1
Wheeling University 9 to 1

University of Charleston $31,900
Wheeling University $28,290
Salem University $13,150
West Virginia University $9,360
West Virginia State University $8,856
West Liberty University $8,716
Concord University $8,540
Marshall University $7,190
Shepherd University $6,288
Fairmont State University $6,022

University of Charleston $16,400
Salem University $13,464
West Virginia University $10,602
Wheeling University $9,900
West Virginia State University $9,168
Concord University $9,162
Shepherd University $8,280
Marshall University $7,520
Fairmont State University $7,474
West Liberty University $7,080

Wheeling University
Salem University
Concord University
Shepherd University
Fairmont State University
West Liberty University
University of Charleston
West Virginia State University
Marshall University
West Virginia University

Salem University
Wheeling University
Concord University
Shepherd University
West Liberty University
Fairmont State University
University of Charleston
West Virginia State University
Marshall University
West Virginia University

University of Charleston 68%
Wheeling University 73%
West Liberty University 74%
West Virginia University 88%
Concord University 91%
Shepherd University 96%
West Virginia State University 96%
Marshall University 97%
Fairmont State University 98%

Wheeling University 9 to 1
West Liberty University 12 to 1
Fairmont State University 13 to 1
Salem University 14 to 1
Concord University 15 to 1
Shepherd University 15 to 1
University of Charleston 16 to 1
Marshall University 16 to 1
West Virginia State University 16 to 1
West Virginia University 17 to 1

Fairmont State University $6,022
Shepherd University $6,288
Marshall University $7,190
Concord University $8,540
West Liberty University $8,716
West Virginia State University $8,856
West Virginia University $9,360
Salem University $13,150
Wheeling University $28,290
University of Charleston $31,900

West Liberty University $7,080
Fairmont State University $7,474
Marshall University $7,520
Shepherd University $8,280
Concord University $9,162
West Virginia State University $9,168
Wheeling University $9,900
West Virginia University $10,602
Salem University $13,464
University of Charleston $16,400

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 master’s degrees offered by respected colleges and universities are generally respected by employers. The main thing to consider about your online master’s choices is whether the school name is well known and respected. In many cases, employers won’t know your degree was earned online. But even if they do, a degree from a respected college is automatically to your benefit.

We rank the colleges and universities in this list by the influence of their alumni and faculty. For master’s degree students, including online master’s degree students, having faculty who are influential in your field matters a lot. It’s a big indicator that you have the chance to get a quality education. And, knowing that you will join an alumni association with some impressive people is nice, too.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Master’s Degrees

An online master’s degree costs about $40,000 for the average grad student. However, the cost of your online master’s degree will depend on the type of grad school you attend. In 2018-2019, the average cost for a year of tuition in a public grad school was $12,171. The average cost for a year of tuition in private, non-profit grad school was $27,776. An online master’s degree will usually cost about the same as a traditional master’s degree. Some schools will charge 5-10% more for online courses. This added cost pays for the technology and specialized training needed for online instruction. But getting a master’s degree online can also help you save money. The costs above don’t include expenses like housing, transportation, or certain campus fees. As an online grad student, you can save a lot of money by avoiding these added expenses. Many online master’s degree programs are also accelerated. Most master’s degree programs are designed to be completed in two years. But you may be able to earn your online master’s degree in as little as 12-18 months. Earning an accelerated online master’s degree can save you money on tuition.

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

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.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

How do we determine West Virginia's best online master's degree programs?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

Best Online Master’s Program in West Virginia 2023

West Virginia’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest

West Virginia is just one of many states offering excellent online master’s programs. To check out our rankings, look into the best online associate’s degrees in Wyoming, Virginia, Connecticut, and more!

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Best Online Master’s Programs in West Virginia 2024

Top 10 Online Master's Programs in West Virginia

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in West Virginia

What are West Virginia’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Online Master’s Program in West Virginia 2023

Career Outlook for degree at West Virginia University

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Marshall University

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at West Virginia State University

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of Charleston

Online Master's Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at West Liberty University

Online Master's Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Fairmont State University

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Shepherd University

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Concord University

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Salem University

Online Master's Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Wheeling University

Online Master's Degrees

West Virginia’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest