Acceptance Rate
89%
Avg. SAT
1220
75th percentile
“Appalachian powerhouse blending rowdy Mountaineer fandom with championship forensics and energy engineering in hilly Morgantown.”
Morgantown, WV
Location
Small City
Campus Setting
West Virginia University traces its roots to 1867 as a land-grant institution focused on agriculture and mining, evolving into a sprawling public research university that reflects the state's industrial heritage. You'll find students who thrive here are energetic extroverts who love big-school energy, outdoor adventures like rafting on the Cheat River, and cheering at packed football games. The campus personality mixes blue-collar grit with infectious school spirit, drawing families from coal country and beyond. Morgantown wraps around the university like a second skin—a compact college town of 30,000 nestled in forested hills, where you'll grab pepperoni rolls at local bakeries and hike nearby Coopers Rock State Forest on weekends. Tradeoffs include a rugged, steeply sloped campus that demands serious walking shoes, especially in snowy winters, and a remote location that means road trips for bigger-city escapes.
Photo Gallery
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Available Online
Degree Levels Offered
In classrooms, expect a mix of massive intro lectures in subjects like business and engineering alongside smaller upper-level seminars where professors push hands-on projects. WVU stands out for its forensics program, whose debate and speech teams rack up national titles year after year, and petroleum and mining engineering tied to the region's energy sector. You'll encounter research chances early, particularly in renewable energy labs or the Reed College of Media's immersive journalism studios. The vibe rewards practical learners over pure theorists, but popular majors like nursing fill up fast, and large class sizes in gen-eds can feel impersonal until you hit specialized tracks.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
18,206 undergrad • 5,437 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
79%
Black / African American
3%
Hispanic / Latino
4%
Asian
2%
Other / Multi-racial
11%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Morgantown, WV
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
A typical week pulses with classes, club meetings, and tailgates building to Friday night bar hops or Greek parties, all fueled by the Mountaineer Maniac mascot hyping up crowds. Traditions like the post-football "Country Roads" sing-along as fans stream down the hill create electric bonds, while over 400 clubs cover everything from rock climbing to robotics. Residential life centers on high-rise dorms overlooking the Monongahela River and fraternity row, though upperclassmen often snag apartments off-campus for more freedom. The social scene skews lively and welcoming, but the party reputation can test focus, and the spread-out, hilly layout means biking or the PRT monorail for quick campus hops. Winters bring snow sports nearby, offsetting gray skies.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Big 12 Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
No
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
83%
4 Years Graduation Rate
49%
6 Years Graduation Rate
67%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$55,939
83% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at West Virginia University and return in the fall. 49% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 67% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
49%
4-5 years
18%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
32%
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Key Statistics
Type
Public
Tuition
$9,360
Acceptance
89%
Undergrads
18,206
4-Year Grad Rate
49%
Endowment
$852M
Morgantown, WV 26506