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West Virginia, also known as The Mountain State, is the twenty-ninth most densely populated state in the country while being the ninth smallest by land area. It can be found adjacent to Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, and Pennsylvania in the Appalachian region of the country. The state has over 80 accredited higher education institutions of all sizes. Private colleges in West Virginia can be found from Elkins to Salem and from Bethany to Wheeling. Top ranked private colleges in West Virginia starts will West Virginia Wesleyan College, Salem International University, and Bethany College.

2024 Best Private Colleges in West Virginia

West Virginia Wesleyan College is a liberal arts college that offers an undergraduate education and helps students in developing important skills useful in pursuit of graduate education or employment. A liberal arts curriculum exposes students to a variety of topics and subjects. The school is located in Buckhannon, WV, which is a predominantly rural area. The school's United Methodist affiliation is one of its defining characteristics and plays an important role within the school's mission. Approximately a thousand students enroll at West Virginia Wesleyan College annually.

Students may choose from a few areas of study, including:

  • Business And Marketing Studies
  • Recreation And Fitness Studies
  • Psychology
  • Health And Clinical Professions

Students applying for admission are required to submit an application, transcripts, records, standardized test scores and any requested application essays, which will then be reviewed by admissions staff. An ACT or SAT exam is required prior to applying, with scores within the range of 1240 to 1590 for the SAT exam and between 20 to 26 on the ACT is typical among students accepted to this school. West Virginia Wesleyan College admits around 80% of applicants annually. Of those students accepted, about 30% of students registered for enrollment. More information from the admissions office can be found here.

The cost of undergraduate tuition is nearly $27,000 annually. Tuition prices may change for a variety of reasons, and therefore students should visit the school's price of attendance calculator to understand their cost of attendance. Student housing is available on-campus for students. The annual cost of housing is approximately $4,200. Some students at this school may be eligible for financial aid, which is generally offered in the form of loans, grants, scholarships and work study programs.

The West Virginia Wesleyan College Bobcats participate in several athletic programs, overseen by the NCAA. Sports available:

  • Baseball (NCAA Division II)
  • Basketball (NCAA Division II)
  • Track & Field (NCAA Division II)
  • Football (NCAA Division II)

Students may visit the school's http://www.wvwc.edu to view additional information.

Enrollment

1,294

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Wheeling Jesuit University is a nonprofit private institution located in Wheeling, WV and provides a large number of program options for students. The Roman Catholic affiliation of this school is an important part of the history, education and vision that defines the school. Approximately a thousand students enroll at Wheeling Jesuit University yearly.

A list of some of the more popular programs offered are:

  • Health And Clinical Professions
  • Business And Marketing Studies
  • Psychology
  • Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Security And Protective Services

To be considered for admissions, you may be asked to complete an application, write a personal statement, and submit any transcripts or test scores, which are then evaluated by admissions staff. Most students admitted to Wheeling Jesuit University earn an SAT score in a range of 950 - 1120, or an ACT score between 20 - 25. 72% of those who apply are accepted to Wheeling Jesuit University, of which 28% choose to enroll. More information regarding admissions can be found here.

Undergraduate tuition is approximately $28,000 for the year, though it may change based on different types of circumstances. Students may check the school's price of attendance calculator to get a more personalized estimate of costs. The price of on-campus housing is about $4,500 per year. Some students at this school may qualify for financial aid, which is generally offered in the form of loans, grants, scholarships and work study programs.

The mascot for Wheeling Jesuit University is the "Cardinals", and they participate in intercollegiate sports through oversight by the NCAA. Sports available may include but not limited to:

  • Baseball (NCAA Division II)
  • Basketball (NCAA Division II)
  • Track & Field (NCAA Division II)

Enrollment

1,171

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

Bethany College is a liberal arts college that offers an undergraduate education and helps students in developing important skills useful in pursuit of graduate education or employment. A liberal arts curriculum exposes students to a variety of topics and subjects. The school is located in Bethany, West Virginia, which is a predominantly rural area. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) affiliation of this school is an important part of the history, education and vision that defines the school. The school enrolls 910 students annually, allowing for a more personalized education.

A list of some of the more popular programs offered are:

  • Psychology
  • Communications And Journalism
  • Education
  • Public Administration And Social Services

To be considered for admissions, you may be asked to complete an application, provide letters of recommendations, and submit high school records and test scores, which are then reviewed by the admissions office. Either the ACT or SAT exam can be taken to apply to this school. Scores within the range of 17 - 24 on the ACT or 1150 - 1540 on the SAT are needed to greatly increase your chances for admission. This school accepts roughly 60% of applicants yearly. Of those admitted, nearly 25% enrolled. More information from the admissions office can be found here.

Undergraduate tuition is approximately $26,000 per year, though it may change based on any number of circumstances. Students may check the school's net price calculator to see the personalize cost of attendance. Housing may be available for those that would like to live on-campus for around a cost of $5,500 each year. This school may help with costs by offering financial aid for students who qualify as loans, grants, scholarships and work study programs.

The mascot for Bethany College is the "Bison", and they participate in intercollegiate sports through the oversight and organization of the NCAA. Athletic programs that are available include:

  • Baseball (NCAA Division III)
  • Basketball (NCAA Division III)
  • Football (NCAA Division III)
  • Golf (NCAA Division III)

Students can visit the Bethany College website to get a complete list of areas of study, admissions information, and more.

Enrollment

581

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Davis & Elkins College is a nonprofit private school that has a fair number of degree programs available for students to choose from. The school is located in Elkins, WV, in a predominantly rural area. The school maintains a Presbyterian Church affiliation, which is evident in the role it plays in program curriculums and daily life at the school. The low student to teacher ratio and access to faculty is due primarily to the small student body, over 800 students, maintained by Davis & Elkins College. Areas of study available at Davis and Elkins College include:

  • Health And Clinical Professions
  • Education
  • Business And Marketing Studies
  • Recreation And Fitness Studies
  • Psychology
The admissions process will include the submission of an application, transcripts, records, and standardized test scores, which are then evaluated by admissions officials. The most common scores among applicants admitted to Davis and Elkins College are within the range of 17 - 22 for the ACT exam, or 1210 - 1540 for the SAT exam. Roughly 50% of all applicant were admitted at Davis and Elkins College, with 22% of those admitted choosing to attend. The cost of undergraduate tuition is approximately $25,000 per year. Tuition prices may change for any number of reasons, and as such students should use the school's net price calculator to identify their personalized cost estimate of attendance. Financial aid may be offered to students that meet the necessary requirements. Davis & Elkins College offers several athletic programs overseen by the NCAA. Sports available may include but not limited to:
  • Baseball (NCAA Division II)
  • Basketball (NCAA Division II)
  • Golf (NCAA Division II)
To see a full list of areas of study, enrollment information, admissions information, and more, please take a look at the school's website at www.dewv.edu.

Enrollment

793

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

University of Charleston is a nonprofit private school that has many majors available for students to choose from. The school is located in Charleston, West Virginia, in a predominantly urban area. About 1,500 students enroll at University of Charleston annually. Areas of study offered at University of Charleston include:

  • Health And Clinical Professions
  • Business And Marketing Studies
  • Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Visual And Performing Arts
The admissions process starts with the submission of an application, school records, and standardized test scores, which are then reviewed by the admissions office. An ACT or SAT exam is required prior to applying, with scores in a range of 895 to 1105 for the SAT exam and in a range of 20 to 25 for the ACT exam is common among students admitted to this school. 57% of students that apply are accepted to this school, of which 25% choose to attend. The cost of undergraduate tuition is approximately $28,000, but may change yearly. Students are encouraged to visit the school's net price calculator to better estimate their cost of attending University of Charleston. School housing is available on-campus for students. The annual cost of housing is approximately $5,300. Students attending this school may be eligible for aid which is generally grants and loans. The University of Charleston Golden Eagles participate in a number of athletic programs, overseen by the NCAA. Athletic programs available may include:
  • Baseball (NCAA Division II)
  • Basketball (NCAA Division II)
  • Track & Field (NCAA Division II)
  • Football (NCAA Division II)
  • Golf (NCAA Division II)
Students who wish to learn more about this school may check out their website at www.ucwv.edu.

Enrollment

2,623

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

Ohio Valley University is a nonprofit private institution that has a large selection of programs available for students to choose from. The school is located in Vienna, West Virginia, in a predominantly urban area. The school's Churches of Christ affiliation is one of its defining characteristics and plays an important role within the school's vision. The school enrolls 500 students annually, allowing for a more personalized education. Areas of study available at Ohio Valley University include:

  • Liberal Arts And Sciences
  • Education
  • Business And Marketing Studies
  • Psychology
  • Theology And Religious Vocations
Students applying for admission are generally required to submit an application, transcripts, records, test scores and any requested letters of recommendations, which will then be reviewed by the school. Most common test scores among applicants accepted to this school are between 18 to 24 on the ACT, or 1280 to 1690 for the SAT exam. This school accepts around 50 percent of students applying annually. Of those applicants admitted, about 37 percent enrolled. Tuition is approximately $20,000 annually, though it may change based on any number of circumstances. Students should visit the school's net price calculator to find what your personalized cost of attendance would be. Housing may be available for those that would like to live on-campus at an estimated cost of $3,600 each year. Students enrolled at Ohio Valley University may qualify for aid which is typically grants and loans. Ohio Valley University offers several athletic programs overseen by the NCAA. Available athletic programs offered may include but not limited to:
  • Baseball (NCAA Division II)
  • Basketball (NCAA Division II)
  • Golf (NCAA Division II)
  • Lacrosse (NCAA Division II)
  • Soccer (NCAA Division II)
Students who wish to see more about this school can check out their website at www.ovu.edu.

Enrollment

509

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

Salem International University, a private institution, offers a variety of program options, allowing students to choose which major is right for them. Located in Salem, WV, it offers a rural setting for students to study in. Salem International University, with only around 800 students enrolled, provides a low student to teacher ratio and personalized education as part of its commitment to students.

Students may choose from several areas of study, including but not limited to:

  • Business Administration
  • Educational Leadership and Administration
  • Curriculum and Instruction
  • Criminal Justice
  • Nursing

The school operates under an open enrollment policy, admitting any applicants that meet the basic requirements for admission. Submission of transcripts, test scores, and personal statements may be required for certain programs. More information regarding admissions can be found at salemu.edu.

Tuition is approximately $17,000 per year, though it may vary based on different types of circumstances. Students should visit the school's price of attendance calculator to find what your personalized cost of attendance would be. The price of on-campus housing is about $2,600 per year. Financial aid may be offered to students that meet the necessary requirements.

Athletic programs are available at Salem International University through the NCAA, allowing students to compete in intercollegiate sports. Athletic programs offered may include:

  • Baseball (NCAA Division II)
  • Basketball (NCAA Division II)
  • Soccer (NCAA Division II)
  • Softball (NCAA Division II)

To see a full list of academic programs offered, enrollment information, admissions information, and more, please visit the school's website at http://www.salemu.edu.

Enrollment

990

Student to Faculty Ratio

22:1

How are Private Colleges in West Virginia Different from Other Colleges?

Private universities distinguish themselves from public colleges in a variety of ways. First, private colleges do not accept state funding. Rather, they operate through the prudent use of grants, internal operations, corporate donations, tuition, endowment funds, and alumni donations. Second, the size of private colleges tends to be significantly smaller than their public university counterparts. Enrollment will vary from school to school but the aggregate size will often be on the smaller side. Last, a private school will generally provide an academic catalogue that is more focused yet abbreviated than a state university.

Top Ranked Degrees at Private Colleges in West Virginia

Students matriculating at a private university will have the ability to choose among a number of degree pathways, from emerging research to popular programs. Emerging degrees that may be of interest includerobotics,data modeling,industrial technology, andneuroscience. Popular majors may pique your interests that may start with areas of study likechild development,history,finance,accounting,engineering,biology,marketing,teaching, orpublic relations. Regardless of your end-point, begin your journey by collecting salient information from top rated schools found with MatchCollege. Our search modules will allow you to quickly findtraditionaldegrees andonlinedegrees in seconds that fit your unique criteria.

List of Large 4-Year Private Universities in West Virginia

There are 3 large private universities in our database for West Virginia. Follow the links below to get more details about each school.

Small to Medium Sized 4-Year Universities

The 4-year schools listed below have a small to medium sized student body and may offer a wide range of associate and bachelor's degrees. Get more information about each school by clicking the links below.

Notes: Tuition & fee amounts are for both West Virginia in-state residents and out of state students, unless noted otherwise. The tuition information displayed is an estimate, which we calculated based on historical data and should be solely used for informational purposes only. Please contact the respective school for information about the current school year.

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

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