West Virginia State University — College Profile

About

Founded in 1891, West Virginia State University (WVSU) is a historically Black, land-grant institution renowned for its rich heritage and its evolution into a highly diverse, welcoming "living laboratory of human relations." The university is academically distinguished by its competitive programs in business administration, criminal justice, nursing, and the STEM disciplines, where undergraduates benefit from robust, hands-on research opportunities. On campus, students experience a tight-knit "State Family" culture energized by NCAA Division II Yellow Jacket athletics, vibrant student organizations, and a suburban campus setting that offers easy access to career-building internships in the nearby state capital of Charleston.

Wikipedia:West Virginia State University (WVSU) is a public historically black, land-grant university in Institute, West Virginia, United States. Founded in 1891 as the West Virginia Colored Institute. It is one of the original 19 land-grant colleges and universities established by the second Morrill Act of 1890, which evolved as a diverse and inclusive campus. Following desegregation, WVSU's student population slowly became more white than black. As of 2017, WVSU's student body was 75% white and only 8% African-American.

Location

Institute, WV, 25112-1000 · Suburb campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

CMH · Columbus

127 mi away

Open in Google Maps View official campus map

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$9,570$14,990

Housing & food (on campus)$13,522$13,522

Books & supplies$1,206$1,206

Cost of attendance$25,354$30,799

Average net price$11,139Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$14,990

In-state: $9,570

Housing & food (on campus)$13,522

Books & supplies$1,206

Cost of attendance$30,799

In-state: $25,354

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $11,139

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

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

West Virginia State University’s own figures for 2025-2026, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$14,990

Housing$10,718

Books & supplies$1,290

Personal expenses$2,390

Transportation$1,340

Total published by the school$30,799

Source: wvstateu.edu · checked Sep 30, 2026

See how the in-state total ($25,354) is made up

How it’s made up · in-state, 2025-26

West Virginia State University’s own figures for 2025-2026, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$9,570

Housing$10,718

Books & supplies$1,290

Personal expenses$2,365

Transportation$1,340

Total published by the school$25,354

Source: wvstateu.edu · checked Sep 30, 2026

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

$0–30k

$9,457

$30–48k

$10,225

$48–75k

$10,703

$75–110k

$13,798

$110k+

$17,355

Your family's actual price → West Virginia State University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

36%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

30%

Back for yr 2

57%

Transferred

14%

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

33% graduated · 19% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 48% left or unknown

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$32,849

10 yrs after entry$40,492

Debt

Median at graduation$23,338

Monthly payment$247

Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$23.5k

90th percentile$36,918

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

96%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

955

R 410–550 · M 350–490

SAT middle 50%: 760–1040

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If West Virginia State University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 45%Women 55%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

13 : 1

Pell grant

20%

First-gen

43%

Family income

$30,715

Independent

29%

Age at entry

22.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

62%

Hispanic

Black

20%

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

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
Other Sports
Women's
Soccer
Women's
Softball
Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's

Programs & Earnings

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

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$32,849

After 10 yrs

$40,492

Business Administration, Management and Operations74

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities34

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods25

Criminal Justice and Corrections25

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness21

Biology, General13

Social Work13

Psychology, General11

Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other9

Communication and Media Studies7

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing7

English Language and Literature, General6

Economics5

Political Science and Government5

History5

Chemistry4

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$13M

Full-time faculty

67%

Faculty salary

$7,141/mo

Teaching spend

$4,417

per student

Federal loans

18%

Classification

Carnegie type

Master's (small programs)

Research activity

Research college or university

$6M research spending

Undergraduate profile