List of colleges and universities in West Virginia facts for kids

Old Main at Marshall University

McMurran Hall at Shepherd University

Woodburn Hall at West Virginia University

West Virginia is home to many colleges and universities. These are places where students go to learn after high school. There are 44 such schools in the state. They are grouped into different types based on what they teach. Some are big research universities, like those that offer PhDs. Others are master's universities or four-year colleges. There are also many two-year colleges and some schools that focus on special topics.

The oldest college still open in West Virginia is Bethany College. It was started on March 2, 1840. Marshall University and West Liberty University are also very old. They began as private schools in 1837.

West Virginia University is the largest public school in the state. It had almost 30,000 students in 2013. The smallest public school is Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College. It had 822 students. For private schools, Wheeling University is the largest traditional one. Valley College–Princeton is the smallest private school. The American Public University System is a very large online school based in Charles Town. It has over 31,000 students. Catholic Distance University is another online school in Charles Town. It teaches students about liberal arts and theology.

West Virginia has two special types of universities called land-grant universities. These are West Virginia State University and West Virginia University. They get support from the government to teach about agriculture and engineering. West Virginia University also takes part in the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. This program helps students learn about space.

The state also has two historically black colleges and universities. These are Bluefield State University and West Virginia State University. They are part of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

West Virginia has three schools where you can study to become a doctor. These are the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, and the West Virginia University School of Medicine. There is also one law school, the West Virginia University College of Law. Most colleges in West Virginia are checked and approved by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). This means they meet high standards for education. Many schools also have specific programs approved by other groups, like for nursing or physical therapy.

Colleges and Universities in West Virginia

This table shows the colleges and universities that are currently open in West Virginia.

Understanding Accreditation (Approval) Terms

This table explains the short forms (abbreviations) used for the different groups that approve colleges and programs.

Past Colleges and Universities

This table lists some colleges and universities in West Virginia that are no longer open.

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Universidades de Virginia Occidental para niños

• Higher education in the United States
• List of college athletic programs in West Virginia
• List of recognized higher education accreditation organizations
• Lists of American institutions of higher education