Best Online Colleges in West Virginia for 2024

Get detailed info on Best Online Colleges in West Virginia and their online degrees, financial aid and scholarships, acceptance rate, tuition and fees.

West Virginia is a state located in the region of Southern and Mid-Atlantic. The department of education is divided into two boards namely the West Virginia Board of Education and West Virginia Department of Education. The initiative was taken up by the government to integrate policymaking and planning into the elementary, secondary and higher education of the state.

The state of West Virginia is known to provide post-secondary education to more than 146,000 each year. The state also has a pretty high rate of graduates every year. More than 30,000 students graduate every year at degree levels from colleges/Universities in the state of West Virginia.

Opportunities for college education in West Virginia

There are 46 Colleges/Universities established in the state of West Virginia, which provides online as well as offline/traditional courses and programs. Among those 46 Universities, 23 of them are public Universities, 9 being private not for profit and the remaining 14 are for-profit Universities. Among these 25 Universities are four-year degree colleges and 21 Universities are two-year degree college.

In the year 2016, the total number of students who were enrolled in different Universities in the state was 146,358 and out of these 30,421 were awarded degrees at different levels. The total number of 6,498 associate’s degrees, 16,519 Bachelor’s degrees, 6,244 Master’s degree and a total of 1,160 doctorate’s degrees were awarded in 2015-2016, according to National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). 

The online programs are also available to the students to choose from, in the different department of studies. The students are also facilitated and provided with financial aids from the federal government, state government and institutional financial aids are also available to the students, depending upon the college/university you enroll with.

West Virginia has established many Universities/Colleges which has encouraged the students to grow and study. The state has also provided them with offline as well as online education i.e., a Non-traditional form of learning.

The following is a list of top online colleges in West Virginia in 2019.

American Public University System
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1 American Public University System

Charles Town, West Virginia


Institution Type: Private For-Profit

Financial Aid Percentage: 96%

Average Financial Aid: $4,191

Acceptance Rate: Request Info

Total Programs Offered (238)


46

Business Management Programs

32

Homeland Security Programs

28

Information Technology Programs

132

Other Programs


American Public University System (APUS) is a public university in West Virginia. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The university offers various degrees such as Bachelor’s, Associates, Master’s, Doctoral and Online Certificate programs.

It has more than 1700 faculty members pledged to serve the academic needs of the students. The retention rate for full-time students is 76% and 67% for part-time students. Credits are available in the academic program and can be transferred to other colleges.

To get the admission the candidate must have scored a minimum average GPA of 3.66. It offers various scholarships and fellowships like Boren fellowship and scholar, Fulbright scholarship, Federal internship, Presidential management fellow, and Workforce recruitment program, etc. The U.S Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) in collaboration with the university offers a number of educational benefits to the veteran.

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2 Glenville State College

Glenville, West Virginia


Institution Type: Public

Financial Aid Percentage: 92%

Average Financial Aid: $9,459

Acceptance Rate: 69.00

Total Programs Offered (4)


2

Music Programs

1

Business Management Program

1

Criminal Justice Program


Glenville State University is a public university in West Virginia with accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. This university grants Bachelors, Masters, and a Graduate certificate in majors like Business Management, Natural Resources Conservation and Management, Social Science, Liberal Arts, and Humanities, Forestry and more.

A cumulative GPA of 3.4 is required to get into this university and for getting access to the
scholarship’s students have to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 for at least eight semesters.

A ‘Leadership Award’ of $1000 scholarship is presented to international students who maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0. More than 80% receive need-based financial aid of $6,571 on an average. It is also a veteran-friendly college having many services to offer such as Educational loan, free transports. The university was ranked 10th in ‘Top Public Schools’ by the US News and World Report.

Wheeling Jesuit University (WJU)
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3 Wheeling Jesuit University (WJU)

Wheeling, West Virginia


Institution Type: Private Not-For-Profit

Financial Aid Percentage: 100%

Average Financial Aid: $19,451

Acceptance Rate: 93.00

Total Programs Offered (33)


23

Education Programs

9

Nursing Programs

1

Business Management Program


Wheeling Jesuit University (WJU) is a private, not-for-profit Roman Catholic university, accredited regionally by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and also by the Higher Learning Commission. The university has been ranked 38th in the ‘Regional Universities in the South’ by the US News.

The institution is selective in enrollment with an acceptance rate of 51% and the cumulative grade point needed to get into this is a GPA of 3.35. The average ACT composite score this college seeks is 21. WJU grants are given on the need-basis from FAFSA results. Many other scholarships are also provided based on the student's academic achievements. Students with documented disabilities are given a private stay on a case-by-case basis.

The WJU is dedicated to being a military friendly school and also a proud participant of the Yellow Ribbon Program. There are many ways in which WJU helps the veterans and the children of the veteran’s to help them pursue their degree.

University of Charleston (UC)
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4 University of Charleston (UC)

Charleston, West Virginia


Institution Type: Private Not-For-Profit

Financial Aid Percentage: 97%

Average Financial Aid: $18,892

Acceptance Rate: 52.00

Total Programs Offered (14)


7

Business Management Programs

2

Psychology Programs

2

Information Systems Programs

3

Other Programs


University of Charleston (UC) is a private university whose accreditation is given by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It offers Graduate and Undergraduate degree programs for a variety of majors. The programs are offered through its School of Pharmacy, School of Business and Leadership, and more. The University of Charleston also offers a Physician Assistant Program and Online Programs.

A cumulative GPA of 3.38 out of 4.0 is required for admission here. The athletics team is a part of the NCAA Division II. The university awards students with scholarships and grants for excelling in academics.

This university takes part in the Yellow Ribbon program. It offers high-quality, accredited online learning opportunities to military and veteran. ‘West Virginia National Guard Golden Eagle Scholarship’ is provided to the military candidates in this university.

West Virginia University (WVU)
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5 West Virginia University (WVU)

Morgantown, West Virginia


Institution Type: Public

Financial Aid Percentage: 77%

Average Financial Aid: $8,108

Acceptance Rate: 76.00

Total Programs Offered (52)


15

Education Programs

9

Nursing Programs

7

Business Management Programs

21

Other Programs


West Virginia University (WJU) is a highly rated public university which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Many of the WJU majors hold specialized accreditation as well. Those majors include Liberal Arts and Humanities, Journalism, Sociology, Nursing, Business, Biology and more.

The cumulative grade point required to get into this university should be a GPA of 3.55 and the ACT composite score should be 24 while the SAT composite score should be 1133. WVU recently granted $320 million in total as financial aid for its students.

There are about 480+ student clubs and organizations and also a parent club organization which is known as ‘The Mountaineer Parents Club’ having over 20000+ members in 28 clubs to connect the parents with the student experience.

Marshall University
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6 Marshall University

Huntington, West Virginia


Institution Type: Public

Financial Aid Percentage: 88%

Average Financial Aid: $9,017

Acceptance Rate: 89.00

Total Programs Offered (35)


20

Education Programs

4

Business Management Programs

2

Nursing Programs

9

Other Programs


Marshall University is a public university whose accreditation is provided by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The majors taught in this university include Arts, Business, Information Technology, Engineering, Medicine, Pharmacy, etc.

Financial assistance is available to eligible full and part-time students in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. At this university, around 71% of undergraduates receive some kind of financial aid.

It was ranked 42nd in the ‘Regional Universities South’ category by the U.S. News and World Report. It also sponsors 10 clubs and 32 intramural sports. Marshall University is a part of NCAA I and competes with other universities for sports glory.

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7 Fairmont State University

Fairmont, West Virginia


Institution Type: Public

Financial Aid Percentage: 72%

Average Financial Aid: $6,760

Acceptance Rate: 65.00

Total Programs Offered (2)


1

Criminal Justice Program

1

Education Program


Fairmont State University is a public institution whose accreditation is provided by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). It has been ranked in the 2019 edition of ‘Best Colleges in National Universities South, Tier 2’ by the US news. Popular majors in the institution include Nursing, Criminal Justice and safety studies, and Business.

The SAT score range that is accepted for admission here is in between 940-1140 and the ACT score range is between 18-23. Around 69% of undergraduates receive financial aid and the average grant provided is of $6,894.

The Veteran Services Office of the university serves the FSU veterans and veteran dependent students by providing them with additional benefits and educational counseling, program information, referral to various agencies and certification of eligible students. to receive education benefits under various state and federal programs.

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8 Concord University

Athens, West Virginia


Institution Type: Public

Financial Aid Percentage: 94%

Average Financial Aid: $6,555

Acceptance Rate: 81.00

Total Programs Offered (4)


2

Education Programs

1

Health Science Program

1

Human Services Program


Concord University is a public university in Athens, West Virginia which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It offers undergraduates and graduates degree. The university offers majors such as Science, Business, Marketing, Humanities, Social Science, Biological and Biomedical.

The online students have the privilege to use the services of Inceptia, a university partner, for an introductory course on financial education. To get admission a composite ACT score of 18 or above and SAT score of 930 or above is required.

The university gives 68% of undergraduates student some kind of financial aid based on their eligibility criteria and needs. Its student retention rate is an impressive 66%. Concord University is a part of NCAA II and competes in various sports tournaments.

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9 Bluefield State College

Bluefield, West Virginia


Institution Type: Public

Financial Aid Percentage: 91%

Average Financial Aid: $6,811

Acceptance Rate: 83.00

Total Programs Offered (9)


3

Business Management Programs

2

Theology Programs

1

Criminal Justice Program

3

Other Programs


Bluefield State College is a public college, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It offers career-focused, affordable higher education programs to many first generation, low income, and/or nontraditional students. It offers many undergraduate programs in Applied Sciences, Business, Education, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Allied Health Sciences leading to Baccalaureate and certain Associate degrees.

The cumulative grade point needed to get admission in the BSC is a GPA of 3.36 out of 4.0.

At this college, more than 60% of the candidates receive some kind of financial aid. The average package awarded as a grant or scholarship is $3,200. Military personnel, Veterans and their families also have a wide range of VA educational benefits available. It has an on-campus ‘Veteran Certifying Official’ for helping the veterans to apply and guide through the process.

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10 Alderson Broaddus University

Philippi, West Virginia


Institution Type: Private Not-For-Profit

Financial Aid Percentage: 99%

Average Financial Aid: $18,278

Acceptance Rate: 41.00

Total Programs Offered (2)


1

Education Program

1

Nursing Program


Alderson Broaddus University is a private institution that has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The courses offered here are Registered Nursing/ Registered Nurse, Biology/ Biological Sciences, Business Administration and Management, Criminology and many more.

The cumulative GPA needed is 3.2 while the SAT range should be between 930-1080 and ACT composite should lie in 18-23. Around 88% of full-time graduates receive financial aid support with an average grant package of $17,378.

It is part of NCAA Division II football and regularly competes with other college teams. It is ranked 30th in the 2019 edition of ‘Best Colleges in Regional Colleges South’ by the U.S. News and World Report.