Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in West Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
West Virginia State University, West Virginia University and Fairmont State University are the top bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in West Virginia by graduate earnings. West Virginia State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,319, College Scorecard. Pierpont Community and Technical College, West Virginia University and Marshall University award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in West Virginia: 397, 161 and 141 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 23 West Virginia colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 3,674 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
Top 9 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia State University Institute Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,319 | 40 | 39% | — | $31,125 |
| 2 | West Virginia University Morgantown Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,883 | 161 | 65% | — | $25,000 |
| 3 | Fairmont State University Fairmont Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,815 | 39 | 44% | — | $30,939 |
| 4 | Shepherd University Shepherdstown Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,587 | 46 | 51% | — | $29,500 |
| 5 | Concord University Athens Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,499 | 68 | 39% | — | $24,326 |
| 6 | Marshall University Huntington Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,282 | 141 | 51% | — | $29,248 |
| 7 | Bluefield State University Bluefield Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,677 | 33 | 37% | — | $28,655 |
| 8 | West Liberty University West Liberty Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,379 | 17 | 60% | — | $31,000 |
| 9 | West Virginia University at Parkersburg Parkersburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,909 | 213 | 9% | — | $18,557 |
Top 8 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Ridge Community and Technical College Martinsburg Public · Associate degree | $32,872 | 187 | 32% | — | $17,500 |
| 2 | Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College Moorefield Public · Associate degree | $28,134 | 26 | 42% | — | $11,500 |
| 3 | Glenville State University Glenville Public · Associate degree | $26,219 | 176 | 34% | — | $20,494 |
| 4 | BridgeValley Community & Technical College South Charleston Public · Associate degree | $23,902 | 32 | 34% | — | $6,750 |
| 5 | West Virginia Northern Community College Wheeling Public · Associate degree | $22,166 | 47 | 33% | — | $14,369 |
| 6 | Potomac State College of West Virginia University Keyser Public · Associate degree | $14,865 | 142 | 31% | — | $12,000 |
| 7 | American Public University System Charles Town Private for-profit · Associate degree Online | $52,108 | 1,402 | 57% | $10,199 | $6,125 |
| 8 | Mountwest Community and Technical College Huntington Public · Associate degree | $43,753 | 24 | 19% | — | $11,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in West Virginia
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pierpont Community and Technical College Fairmont Public | 397 | Not reported |
| 2 | West Virginia University Morgantown Public | 161 | $34,883* |
| 3 | Marshall University Huntington Public | 141 | $32,282 |
| 4 | Concord University Athens Public | 68 | $32,499 |
| 5 | Shepherd University Shepherdstown Public | 46 | $33,587 |
| 6 | West Virginia State University Institute Public | 40 | $41,319 |
| 7 | Fairmont State University Fairmont Public | 39 | $33,815 |
| 8 | Bluefield State University Bluefield Public | 33 | $25,677 |
| 9 | New River Community and Technical College Beaver Public | 27 | Not reported |
| 10 | West Virginia University Institute of Technology Beckley Public | 18 | $34,883* |
ShowHide the other 13 West Virginia colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Public University System (Online) | Charles Town | Private for-profit | 1,402 |
| Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College | Logan | Public | 431 |
| West Virginia University at Parkersburg | Parkersburg | Public | 213 |
| Blue Ridge Community and Technical College | Martinsburg | Public | 187 |
| Glenville State University | Glenville | Public | 176 |
| Potomac State College of West Virginia University | Keyser | Public | 142 |
| West Virginia Northern Community College | Wheeling | Public | 47 |
| BridgeValley Community & Technical College | South Charleston | Public | 32 |
| Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College | Moorefield | Public | 26 |
| Mountwest Community and Technical College | Huntington | Public | 24 |
| West Liberty University | West Liberty | Public | 17 |
| University of Charleston | Charleston | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Wheeling University | Wheeling | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).
What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in West Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in West Virginia.
Which West Virginia colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+
Pierpont Community and Technical College (397 graduates a year), West Virginia University (161 graduates a year) and Marshall University (141 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in West Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 23 West Virginia colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.
What is the best college for Liberal Arts and Sciences in West Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, West Virginia State University leads among bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in West Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,319, College Scorecard. West Virginia University and Fairmont State University follow. By degrees awarded, Pierpont Community and Technical College is the largest, with 397 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in West Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, West Virginia State University tops the list at $41,319. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in West Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in West Virginia is $73,320 (median $65,260), across about 430 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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