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West Virginia University
West Virginia University admits nearly everyone — 89% of applicants. A feature, not a flaw: the page below asks whether West Virginia University is worth attending, not whether you'll get in.
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West Virginia University sits in Morgantown proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. It carries a land-grant charter — the 1862 mandate that ties it to agricultural and practical education.
Its highest-earning path is Mining and Mineral Engineering, where graduates median $109,619 four years out. Faculty pay averages $141,984 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 17,385 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 83.4% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1010 and 1240 — above the WV middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on West Virginia University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
West Virginia University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1010–1240 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically West Virginia University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 520 | 570 | 630 |
| SAT Math | 490 | 550 | 610 |
| ACT Composite | 20 | 23 | 26 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, West Virginia University received 19,857 applications and admitted 17,129 (86.3%), with 4,377 enrolling.
How West Virginia University compares
| West Virginia University | West Virginia median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 89% | 93.3% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,104 | $10,376 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $55,939 | $44,409 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median West Virginia University student earns $55,939 — 26% above the West Virginia median of $44,409 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, West Virginia University prices by residency: $10,104 in-state versus $28,608 out-of-state — a $18,504 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
17,385 undergraduates make West Virginia University a large campus: broad course catalogs and big intro lectures come as a package.
64.7% graduate within six years. Roughly 35% don't — ask a West Virginia University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at West Virginia University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | $109,619 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $99,542 |
| Industrial Engineering | $99,180 |
| Computer Engineering | $99,048 |
| Computer Science | $98,277 |
| Chemical Engineering | $96,503 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $95,324 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $94,750 |
| Petroleum Engineering | $91,142 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $90,461 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $83,750 |
| Civil Engineering | $82,117 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $79,805 |
| Mathematics | $77,144 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $76,959 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $76,662 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $76,135 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $76,034 |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | $75,022 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $73,646 |
| Landscape Architecture | $70,646 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $70,165 |
| Marketing | $69,357 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $68,473 |
| Economics | $68,380 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $68,161 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $66,798 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $66,022 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $65,372 |
| Public Health | $64,888 |
| Forestry | $64,568 |
| Security Science and Technology | $62,455 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | $61,411 |
| Journalism | $58,454 |
| Biology, General | $57,486 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $57,359 |
| Geography and Cartography | $57,075 |
| Philosophy | $57,041 |
| Political Science and Government | $56,969 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $56,132 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $55,669 |
| Sociology | $54,596 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $54,252 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $53,836 |
| Animal Sciences | $52,548 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $51,537 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $51,403 |
| Psychology, General | $51,263 |
| Plant Sciences | $50,249 |
| Social Work | $50,130 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $48,893 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $48,331 |
| Music | $48,226 |
| History | $45,388 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | $45,348 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $44,180 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $41,920 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $40,942 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | $38,649 |
Median earnings for these 59 West Virginia University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $55,939 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 30 additional West Virginia University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for West Virginia University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1010–1240 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 89% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is West Virginia University's acceptance rate?
86.3% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 17,129 admitted from 19,857 applicants.
How much does West Virginia University cost?
In-state tuition is $10,104; out-of-state students pay $28,608. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do West Virginia University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $55,939 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in West Virginia
- West Virginia Wesleyan College — 93.3% admitted
- West Liberty University — 97.3% admitted
- West Virginia State University — 96% admitted
- Shepherd University — 96.8% 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.