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West Virginia State University
Admission at West Virginia State University is close to open (96%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $40,492 median earnings below before the application.
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West Virginia State University occupies suburban Institute, WV — a public campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat. It is one of the nation's historically Black colleges and universities, a designation that shapes both its history and its present mission. It carries a land-grant charter — the 1862 mandate that ties it to agricultural and practical education.
Its highest-earning path is Business Administration, Management and Operations, where graduates median $50,169 four years out. 20.1% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 1,321 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 56.7% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 830 and 1073 — below the WV middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on West Virginia State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, West Virginia State University received 4,465 applications and admitted 4,303 (96.4%), with 322 enrolling.
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 830–1073 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, West Virginia State University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 430 | 495 | 550 |
| SAT Math | 400 | 460 | 523 |
| ACT Composite | 16 | 20 | 22 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How West Virginia State University compares
| West Virginia State University | West Virginia median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 96% | 93.3% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $9,570 | $10,376 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $40,492 | $44,409 | $53,781 |
At $40,492, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($44,409). Look at West Virginia State University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $9,570 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $14,990. For non-residents, West Virginia State University's $14,990 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
Enrollment sits at 1,321 — West Virginia State University is one of the smaller campuses on this site.
Fewer than half of West Virginia State University students — 39.2% — finish within six years. That number should shape how much debt feels safe.
Top majors by earnings at West Virginia State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $50,169 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $50,063 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $47,026 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $46,622 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $43,924 |
| Psychology, General | $42,434 |
| Social Work | $41,571 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $40,303 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $37,866 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $22,764 |
Median earnings for these 10 West Virginia State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $40,492 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 15 additional West Virginia State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for West Virginia State University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 830–1073 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 96% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is West Virginia State University's acceptance rate?
96.4% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 4,303 admitted from 4,465 applicants.
How much does West Virginia State University cost?
In-state tuition is $9,570; out-of-state students pay $14,990. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do West Virginia State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $40,492 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in West Virginia
- West Liberty University — 97.3% admitted
- West Virginia Wesleyan College — 93.3% admitted
- Shepherd University — 96.8% admitted
- West Virginia University — 89% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.