West Liberty University — College Profile

About

Founded in 1837 as West Virginia’s oldest institution of higher education, West Liberty University is a public university set on a scenic hilltop near Wheeling. The university is best recognized for its exceptional health sciences programs—particularly its renowned dental hygiene, nursing, and physician assistant studies—alongside strong offerings in education and business. A major differentiator for WLU is its distinctive Zoo Science and Applied Conservation program, which provides students with rare, hands-on experience caring for an extensive living animal collection right on campus. Student life on "The Hilltop" is defined by a close-knit, supportive community featuring small class sizes, accessible faculty, and active NCAA Division II athletics.

Wikipedia:West Liberty University (WLU) is a public university in West Liberty, West Virginia, United States. Located in the state's Northern Panhandle, it was established as an academy in 1837 and is the oldest university in West Virginia. It offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and graduate programs and had an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students in 2022.

Location

West Liberty, WV, 26074 · Rural campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

PIT · Pittsburgh

30 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$8,893$17,442

Housing & food (on campus)$12,728$12,728

Books & supplies$1,230$1,230

Cost of attendance$26,174$27,634

Average net price$15,366Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$17,442

In-state: $8,893

Housing & food (on campus)$12,728

Books & supplies$1,230

Cost of attendance$27,634

In-state: $26,174

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $15,366

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: westliberty.edu

How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2025-26

West Liberty University’s own figures for 2025-26, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$9,110

Food$13,608

Books & supplies$798

Personal expenses$1,542

Transportation$2,428

Total published by the school$27,634

Source: westliberty.edu · checked Sep 30, 2026

See how the in-state total ($26,174) is made up

How it’s made up · in-state, 2025-26

West Liberty University’s own figures for 2025-26, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$7,650

Food$13,608

Books & supplies$798

Personal expenses$1,542

Transportation$2,428

Total published by the school$26,174

Source: westliberty.edu · checked Sep 30, 2026

Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24

$0–30k

$12,714

$30–48k

$14,460

$48–75k

$15,087

$75–110k

$17,362

$110k+

$18,566

Your family's actual price → West Liberty University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

60%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

43%

Back for yr 2

69%

Transferred

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

63% graduated · 1% transferred · 35% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$36,822

10 yrs after entry$43,296

Debt

Median at graduation$23,250

Monthly payment$246

Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$27k

90th percentile$34,151

Green marks a figure above the typical Master's (medium programs): 52% graduate within 6 yrs.

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

97%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1045

R 470–580 · M 420–543

ACT midpoint

Comp 18–24 · E 16–24 · M 16–23

SAT middle 50%: 890–1123

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If West Liberty University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body

Gender

Men 39%Women 61%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

12 : 1

Pell grant

32%

First-gen

36%

Family income

$45,145

Independent

14%

Age at entry

21.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

81%

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

NH/PI

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division II with football · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Football
Men's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Gymnastics
Women's
Soccer
Men's · Women's
Softball
Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's
Wrestling
Men's · Women's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$36,822

After 10 yrs

$43,296

Business Administration, Management and Operations69

Biology, General41

Dental Support Services and Allied Professions34

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods33

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness29

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing26

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities23

Criminal Justice and Corrections18

Psychology, General12

Social Sciences, General12

Communication and Media Studies11

Management Information Systems and Services8

Communication Disorders Sciences and Services7

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions7

Social Work6

Design and Applied Arts6

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$23M

Full-time faculty

64%

Faculty salary

$7,150/mo

Teaching spend

$7,232

per student

Federal loans

44%

Classification

Carnegie type

Master's (medium programs)

Undergraduate profile