WVSU Academic Snapshot
Admission Selectiveness:
- Admission Rate: 95.96%. Not very selective
- SAT Average: 930. Below average SAT scores, indicating a less competitive applicant pool.
Tuition Overview:
- In-State Tuition: $9,570
- Out-of-State Tuition: $14,990
- Both in-state and out-of-state tuition are relatively affordable compared to national averages.
Student Population at WVSU:
- Total Enrollment: 3,246, including 558 online students
- 3,110 Undergraduate, 136 Graduate
- Gender Distribution: 41.9% men, 58.1% women.
- This is a lower medium-sized institution, balancing resources and a sense of community.
Graduation & Retention Rate
- Graduation Rate: 39%. Lower graduation rate, which may reflect challenges in student retention or completion.
- Transfer-Out Rate: 15%. Some students transfer out, which is common in higher education.
- First-Year Retention Rate: 57%. Lower retention, which may reflect challenges in student engagement or support.
Programs & Degrees Offered
- Programs Offered: 34 academic programs available.
- Graduate Programs: 7 graduate-level programs offered.
- Special Programs: Health Professions.
- Degrees Awarded: Certificate, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctor's.
WVSU Overview
West Virginia State University (WVSU) is a four-year, public school located in Institute, WV. It is a historically black college/university. West Virginia State University was newly reclassified as an Research College/University (Master's College and University (smaller programs)) in 2025 due to changes in its research activities and doctoral program offerings.
The WVSU's tuition & fees is $9,570 for West Virginia residents and $14,990 for out-of-state students for the academic year 2024-2025. 33% of the enrolled undergraduates have received grants or scholarships, with an average aid amount of $10,186.
The school has a total enrollment of 3,246 and the students to faculty ratio is 13 to 1 (7.69%).
WVSU's acceptance rate is 95.96% and the yield (enrollment rate) is 5.51%. The median SAT score is 930 and the ACT score is 18.
WVSU ranked 218th in Liberal Arts Colleges and 12nd in West Virginia Colleges rankings. West Virginia State University is accredited by Higher Learning Commission.
2025 Tuition & Fees and 2026 Estimation
For undergraduate programs, the 2025 tuition & fees of West Virginia State University is $9,570 for in-state students and $14,990 for out-of-state students. For graduate programs, its 2025 tuition & fees is $9,590 for in-state students and $20,990 for out-of-state students.
The estimated 2026 tuition & fees for prospective students is $9,642 for West Virginia residents and $14,764 for out-of-state students based on the current year tuition changes from last year. The estimated 2026 graduate school tuition & fees is $9,180 for West Virginia residents and $20,447 for out-of-state students.
| In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|
| Undergraduate | $9,570 | $14,990 |
|---|
| Graduate | $9,590 | $20,990 |
|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|
| Undergraduate | $9,642 | $14,764 |
|---|
| Graduate | $9,180 | $20,447 |
|---|
The estimation for 2025-2026 tuition costs is based on the cost change rates of last year.
Learning Opportunities and Campus Services
West Virginia State University offers online classes (distance learning opportunities) for both undergraduate and graduate programs. It has ROTC programs and offers teacher certification programs designed to prepare students to meet the requirements for certification as teachers.
Special Learning Opportunities at WVSU
| Learning Opportunities |
|---|
| ROTC | Army |
|---|
| Weekend/Evening College | No |
|---|
| Teacher Certification | Yes |
|---|
| Study Abroad | Yes |
|---|
| On-Campus Services |
|---|
| Academic/career counseling service | Yes |
|---|
| Employment services for students | Yes |
|---|
| Placement services for completers | Yes |
|---|
| On-campus day care for students' children | No |
|---|
West Virginia State University Directory Information
Tools for analyzing and comparing WVSU