There are 69 colleges in West Virginia - 40 public and 29 private schools. At West Virginia colleges, rising college costs are evident in the Cost of Attendance (COA), which combines tuition, fees, textbooks, room and board, and personal living expenses; this figure has grown significantly in the last decade.
West Virginia Colleges Key COA Trends (2016-2025)
The total Cost of Attendance has increased substantially at West Virginia colleges:
- On-Campus: The COA has risen by 23.25%.
- Off-Campus: The COA has risen by 23.69%.
- 2024-2025 Total COA: the average total COA is $35,313 when living on campus and $34,343 when living off campus.
West Virginia Colleges Tuition & Fees Changes
Tuition and fees saw dramatic increases across institution types:
| Institution Type |
10-Year Increase (2016-2025) |
2025 Average Tuition & Fees |
| Public, In-State |
31.23% (from $6,914 to $9,073) |
$9,073 |
| Public, Out-of-State |
15.87% (from $15,716 to $18,210) |
$18,210 |
| Private Colleges |
3.41% (from $20,545 to $21,246) |
$21,246 |
Note on Degrees: Undergraduate tuition & fees increased by 15.87%, while graduate program tuition & fees increased by 25.99% over the same period.
Living and Other Costs
Living Costs (Room & Board, Other Expenses):
- At West Virginia colleges, living costs increased by 37.42% for on-campus and 39.71% for off-campus.
- The average living cost for 2024-2025 is $15,954 (on-campus) and $14,984 (off-campus).
Books & Supplies:
- Books and supplies costs have remained relatively stable (-13.28%), with the average cost for 2024-2025 being $1,149.
COA (Cost of Attendance) Trends
Over the past 10 years, the COA has increased 23.25% when living on campus and 23.69% when living off campus at West Virginia Colleges.
In private West Virginia Colleges, the COA has increase by 14.54% (on-campus) and 14.68% (off-camus). The COA includes tuition, fees, books & supplies, room & board, and other personal expenses.
For the academic year 2024-2025, the total cost of attendance is $35,313 when a student lives on campus and $34,343 when living off campus at West Virginia Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of COA for West Virginia Colleges over the past 10 years.
COA (Cost of Attendance) Trends of West Virginia Colleges
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus |
|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools |
|---|
| 2015-16 |
$19,849 | $28,651 | $33,480 | $18,964 | $27,766 | $32,595 |
|---|
| 2016-17 |
$20,365
2.60% | $29,263
2.14% | $33,148
-0.99% | $19,441
2.52% | $28,339
2.06% | $32,224
-1.14% |
|---|
| 2017-18 |
$20,908
2.67% | $30,091
2.83% | $33,763
1.86% | $19,875
2.23% | $29,058
2.54% | $32,730
1.57% |
|---|
| 2018-19 |
$21,151
1.16% | $30,601
1.69% | $34,644
2.61% | $20,006
0.66% | $29,456
1.37% | $33,499
2.35% |
|---|
| 2019-20 |
$21,779
2.97% | $30,622
0.07% | $35,390
2.15% | $20,659
3.26% | $29,502
0.16% | $34,270
2.30% |
|---|
| 2020-21 |
$21,812
0.15% | $30,362
-0.85% | $35,698
0.87% | $20,513
-0.71% | $29,063
-1.49% | $34,399
0.38% |
|---|
| 2021-22 |
$22,307
2.27% | $30,972
2.01% | $35,580
-0.33% | $20,801
1.40% | $29,466
1.39% | $34,074
-0.94% |
|---|
| 2022-23 |
$22,722
1.86% | $31,542
1.84% | $36,155
1.62% | $21,178
1.81% | $29,998
1.81% | $34,611
1.58% |
|---|
| 2023-24 |
$24,045
5.82% | $33,018
4.68% | $37,374
3.37% | $21,904
3.43% | $30,877
2.93% | $35,233
1.80% |
|---|
| 2024-25 |
$26,176
8.86% | $35,313
6.95% | $38,349
2.61% | $25,206
15.07% | $34,343
11.23% | $37,379
6.09% |
|---|
Tuition & Fees Changes
For the current year (2025), the average tuition & fees for West Virginia Colleges is $10,178 for West Virginia residents and $19,445 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average tuition & fees is $22,418.
For graduate programs, the 2025 average graduate tuition & fees is $12,081 for West Virginia residents and $21,084 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average graduate program tuition & fees is $11,960.
The tuition & fees has increased 15.87% for undergraduate programs and 25.99% for graduate programs at West Virginia Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of tuition & fees by tuition rates and degrees.
Tuition & Fees Changes for West Virginia Colleges
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate |
|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools |
|---|
| 2015-16 |
$6,914 | $15,716 | $20,545 | $7,729 | $15,587 | $12,243 |
|---|
| 2016-17 |
$7,314
5.79% | $16,212
3.16% | $20,097
-2.18% | $7,787
0.75% | $15,474
-0.72% | $12,029
-1.75% |
|---|
| 2017-18 |
$7,614
4.10% | $16,797
3.61% | $20,469
1.85% | $8,234
5.74% | $16,253
5.03% | $12,339
2.58% |
|---|
| 2018-19 |
$7,620
0.08% | $17,070
1.63% | $21,113
3.15% | $8,666
5.25% | $17,314
6.53% | $11,950
-3.15% |
|---|
| 2019-20 |
$7,818
2.60% | $16,661
-2.40% | $21,429
1.50% | $8,886
2.54% | $16,796
-2.99% | $11,895
-0.46% |
|---|
| 2020-21 |
$7,783
-0.45% | $16,333
-1.97% | $21,669
1.12% | $8,996
1.24% | $16,838
0.25% | $12,482
4.93% |
|---|
| 2021-22 |
$8,059
3.55% | $16,724
2.39% | $21,332
-1.56% | $9,032
0.40% | $16,966
0.76% | $12,494
0.10% |
|---|
| 2022-23 |
$8,029
-0.37% | $16,849
0.75% | $21,462
0.61% | $9,585
6.12% | $17,263
1.75% | $13,396
7.22% |
|---|
| 2023-24 |
$8,362
4.15% | $17,335
2.88% | $21,691
1.07% | $10,492
9.46% | $18,485
7.08% | $11,640
-13.11% |
|---|
| 2024-25 |
$9,073
8.50% | $18,210
5.05% | $21,246
-2.05% | $10,814
3.07% | $19,638
6.24% | $11,375
-2.28% |
|---|
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
For the current year (2025), the average book & supplies costs is $1,149 for West Virginia Colleges. The following table shows the changes of book & supplies costs from year 2016 to 2025.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes for West Virginia Colleges
| Year | Books & Supplies |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,325 |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $1,235
-6.79% |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $1,247
0.97% |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $1,262
1.20% |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $1,283
1.66% |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $1,255
-2.18% |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $1,187
-5.42% |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $1,199
1.01% |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $1,139
-5.00% |
|---|
| 2024-25 | $1,149
0.88% |
|---|
Living Costs Changes
For West Virginia Colleges, the living have increased 29.29% when a student lives on campus facilities and 32.18% when living off campus from year 2016 to 2025. The living costs includes costs for room & board, and other living expenses.
Living Costs Changes for West Virginia Colleges
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $11,610 | $11,811 |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $11,816
4.07% | $12,012
4.20% |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $12,047
3.08% | $12,222
2.40% |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $12,269
2.28% | $12,455
1.10% |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $12,678
3.99% | $12,897
4.54% |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $12,774
0.77% | $12,893
-0.04% |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $13,061
2.56% | $13,152
0.89% |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $13,494
3.09% | $13,534
3.81% |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $14,544
9.77% | $14,590
4.77% |
|---|
| 2024-25 | $15,954
6.16% | $16,036
19.67% |
|---|