21 colleges ranked by return on investment — based on U.S. Department of Education data.
| # | College / University | ROI Rating | Break-Even | Grad Salary | Med. Debt | Grad Rate | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 |
University of Charleston
Charleston, WV
|
High ROI | 1.1 yrs | $55,774 | $19,500 | 46% | Private Non-profit |
| 🥈 |
Wheeling University
Wheeling, WV
|
High ROI | 1.3 yrs | $57,949 | $25,125 | 23% | Private Non-profit |
| 🥉 |
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV
|
High ROI | 1.3 yrs | $55,939 | $22,500 | 65% | Public |
| 4 |
West Virginia University Institute of Technology
Beckley, WV
|
High ROI | 1.3 yrs | $55,939 | $22,500 | 33% | Public |
| 5 |
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, WV
|
High ROI | 2 yrs | $49,358 | $21,600 | 51% | Public |
| 6 |
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Buckhannon, WV
|
High ROI | 2.1 yrs | $51,593 | $27,000 | 57% | Private Non-profit |
| 7 |
Fairmont State University
Fairmont, WV
|
High ROI | 2.6 yrs | $46,857 | $21,000 | 44% | Public |
| 8 |
Marshall University
Huntington, WV
|
Good ROI | 3.1 yrs | $46,354 | $23,250 | 51% | Public |
| 9 |
American Public University System
Charles Town, WV
|
Good ROI | 3.9 yrs | $44,409 | $21,743 | 57% | Private For-profit |
| 10 |
Bethany College
Bethany, WV
|
Good ROI | 4.7 yrs | $44,512 | $27,000 | 47% | Private Non-profit |
| 11 |
Concord University
Athens, WV
|
Good ROI | 4.8 yrs | $42,703 | $18,900 | 39% | Public |
| 12 |
West Liberty University
West Liberty, WV
|
Good ROI | 5.2 yrs | $43,296 | $23,250 | 60% | Public |
| 13 |
Davis & Elkins College
Elkins, WV
|
Good ROI | 5.8 yrs | $43,411 | $27,000 | 39% | Private Non-profit |
| 14 |
West Virginia State University
Institute, WV
|
Low ROI | 13.7 yrs | $40,492 | $23,338 | 39% | Public |
| 15 |
Strayer University-West Virginia
Scott Depot, WV
|
Low ROI | 31.2 yrs | $40,092 | $40,621 | 0% | Private For-profit |
| 16 |
Bluefield State University
Bluefield, WV
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | $38,217 | $18,250 | 37% | Public |
| 17 |
Appalachian Bible College
Mount Hope, WV
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | $37,467 | $11,000 | 71% | Private Non-profit |
| 18 |
Salem University
Salem, WV
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | $34,642 | $24,694 | 20% | Private For-profit |
| 19 |
Catholic International University
Charles Town, WV
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | 100% | Private Non-profit |
| 20 |
Future Generations University
Franklin, WV
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Private Non-profit |
| 21 |
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Lewisburg, WV
|
Insufficient Data | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Public |