Business Schools in West Virginia
The 35th state to join the Union, West Virginia became a state during a tumultuous period in the nation’s history: shortly after Virginia seceded from the United States as part of the Confederate States, West Virginia seceded from the rest of Virginia. Both states would play a pivotal role in the Civil War that followed. West Virginia is located nearly entirely in the Appalachian region, Ohio and Pennsylvania to the north, and Kentucky and Tennessee to the south; it also shares a small border with Maryland. Its location and rugged terrain have led to its nickname, The Mountain State. They are also responsible for its traditional resource-based economy—of which coal is the most famous product—though the state’s economy has now also diversified into green energy, tourism, manufacturing, and more.
West Virginia is one of the smallest states globally, ranking 38th in population with just over 1.8 million people. Given its size, it has a pretty good number of business school options: National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) statistics show 15 public and non-profit schools that grant undergraduate business degrees in the state. The state also boasts a very high percentage of schools that are accredited: 12 of the 15. We always strongly recommend choosing an accredited college in whatever state you choose to go to school. This will ensure that the program you select has clear objectives and has proven that it produces quality outcomes while adhering to national and international standards. Accredited business degrees also typically offer a richer educational experience via interaction with actual businesses.
All of the schools in this article have been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and/or International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). They are all public or non-profit and regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
In this article, you will find all the essential data you need to help you choose the West Virginia business school that best suits your unique needs, based on various key factors, including tuition, financial aid, entrance exam scores, acceptance rates, and more. The sections that follow describe undergraduate programs and job prospects for business school graduates in West Virginia.
Undergraduate Business Schools in West Virginia
West Virginia is an inexpensive state to live in, and the costs of its colleges reflect this. The overall average tuition for our 12 schools is only about $11,000, but the state is even more affordable than this number would suggest. The average is brought up by three schools with $20,000 or higher, while the other nine are all very inexpensive at under $8,000. The least expensive, West Virginia University at Parkersburg, costs only $3,400, while Mountwest Community & Technical College comes in at around $3,900. Average financial aid is also a very generous $9,200.
We were able to obtain acceptance rate data for all but two of our schools, and they are excellent. The colleges’ average is a very high 78%, with the lowest at Davis and Elkins College (50%) and the highest at West Virginia State University (96%). Three of the schools are over 90%, and Marshall University is close at 89%.
Unfortunately, graduation rates for undergraduate business degrees in West Virginia are low as the acceptance rates are high. The overall average is just 40%, one of the lowest figures in the nation. Three of the schools are under 30%, and even the highest, Wheeling Jesuit University, is just 58%. That same school has the best acceptance rate and graduation rate due to its generous 93% acceptance rate.
The table below shows you all the important data you need about undergraduate business schools in West Virginia, including annual in-state tuition costs, average aid per student, acceptance rates, SAT and ACT score ranges of accepted students, and graduation rates. Click any column header to sort the table based on its contents.
| School | City | Tuition | Aid | Median SAT | Median ACT | Accept. Rate | Grad. Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluefield State College | Bluefield | $6,408 | $6,786 | 870-1070 | 17-22 | 83% | 23% |
| Davis and Elkins College | Elkins | $28,842 | $18,888 | 860-1060 | 17-23 | 50% | 45% |
| Fairmont State University | Fairmont | $6,950 | $6,049 | 820-1020 | 18-23 | 65% | 28% |
| Marshall University | Huntington | $7,154 | $8,341 | 880-1135 | 19-24 | 89% | 45% |
| Mountwest Community & Technical College | Huntington | $3,888 | $4,463 | ||||
| Ohio Valley University | Vienna | $20,460 | $8,844 | 850-1060 | 18-23 | 64% | 34% |
| Shepherd University | Shepherdstown | $7,170 | $12,573 | 870-1080 | 19-24 | 92% | 46% |
| West Liberty University | West Liberty | $7,038 | $8,132 | 830-990 | 18-23 | 72% | 42% |
| West Virginia State University | Institute | $6,996 | $7,405 | 813-1010 | 17-22 | 96% | 29% |
| West Virginia University | Morgantown | $7,992 | $8,018 | 915-1130 | 21-26 | 76% | 57% |
| West Virginia University at Parkersburg | Parkersburg | $3,384 | $2,122 | 33% | |||
| Wheeling Jesuit University | Wheeling | $28,110 | $18,624 | 890-1060 | 18-23 | 93% | 58% |
Job Outlook for Business School Graduates in West Virginia
From 2016 to 2026, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data predicts total growth of at least 5% in 32 of 37 business and management occupations across the US. The highest growth will be for market analysts and marketing specialists, at 22.8% over ten years, with financial managers coming in second at 18.7%.
The West Virginia economy fared well during the Great Recession, with unemployment rates below the national average from 2007 to 2013. However, since that time, its unemployment rate has moved above that of the nation as a whole. It currently sits at 5.3%, which is not a high figure but is well above the US average of 4%. About 36,000 people were employed in the business and management sector in West Virginia in 2016. The largest subgroup was general and operations managers at 10,560, nearly three times the next largest subgroup’s size, accountants and auditors at 3,760.
According to BLS data, West Virginia ranked 50th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for overall average annual wage across all occupations in 2016 at $43,385, ahead of only Mississippi and well below the national average of $57,617. Business and management occupations had a weighted average annual salary of around $78,400 that year, well above the average state salary. Chief executives were the highest-paid category at $145,000. Most management positions fell between $70,000 and $120,000. The lowest-paid of the groups was tax preparers at $32,200.
| Occupation Title | BLS.gov Code | 2016 Total Employment West Virginia | Mean Hourly Wage West Virginia | Mean Annual Wage West Virginia | National Growth 2016-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | 13-2011 | 3,760 | $32 | $67,510 | 8.0% |
| Administrative Services Managers | 11-3011 | 1,630 | $37 | $76,370 | 9.1% |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | 11-2011 | 50 | $38 | $78,540 | 5.8% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 11-9041 | 400 | $64 | $133,020 | 7.4% |
| Budget Analysts | 13-2031 | 200 | $31 | $64,520 | 10.4% |
| Business Operations Specialists | 13-1199 | 2,720 | $33 | $68,290 | 10.1% |
| Chief Executives | 11-1011 | 990 | $70 | $145,420 | 11.9% |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | 11-3111 | 40 | $51 | $105,510 | 0.187 |
| Compensation, and Benefits Specialists | 13-1141 | 200 | $27 | $56,770 | 5.6% |
| Compliance Officers | 13-1041 | 1,070 | $29 | $59,620 | 5.0% |
| Construction Managers | 11-9021 | 710 | $45 | $92,700 | 8.9% |
| Cost Estimators | 13-1051 | 810 | $29 | $61,200 | 10.3% |
| Credit Analysts | 13-2041 | 140 | $29 | $59,760 | 11.4% |
| Credit Counselors | 13-2071 | 180 | $19 | $40,450 | 5.5% |
| Financial Analysts | 13-2051 | 400 | $36 | $73,850 | 4.9% |
| Financial Examiners | 13-2061 | 60 | $38 | $78,010 | 8.2% |
| Financial Managers | 11-3031 | 1,600 | $48 | $100,340 | 10.6% |
| General and Operations Managers | 11-1021 | 10,560 | $42 | $88,080 | 7.1% |
| Human Resources Managers | 11-3121 | 350 | $45 | $93,600 | -7.8% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 13-1071 | 1,720 | $28 | $58,500 | 6.9% |
| Information Systems Managers | 11-3021 | 760 | $57 | $118,060 | 12.0% |
| Insurance Underwriters | 13-2053 | 170 | $26 | $54,260 | 10.2% |
| Labor Relations Specialists | 13-1075 | 600 | $18 | $36,540 | 8.5% |
| Loan Officers | 13-2072 | 850 | $26 | $54,330 | 11.5% |
| Logisticians | 13-1081 | 330 | $32 | $67,250 | 22.8% |
| Management Analysts | 13-1111 | 1,950 | $35 | $73,360 | 8.8% |
| Market Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 13-1161 | 860 | $21 | $44,450 | 10.0% |
| Marketing Managers | 11-2021 | 320 | $48 | $99,600 | 6.5% |
| Meeting and Event Planners | 13-1121 | 170 | $18 | $38,260 | 8.4% |
| Public Relations and Fundraising Managers | 11-2031 | 140 | $36 | $74,280 | 10.8% |
| Purchasing Managers | 11-3061 | 90 | $63 | $131,930 | -5.2% |
| Sales Managers | 11-2022 | 740 | $52 | $108,510 | 9.8% |
| Tax Examiners and Revenue Agents | 13-2081 | 210 | $22 | $45,460 | 13.9% |
| Tax Preparers | 13-2082 | 320 | $15 | $32,200 | 11.5% |
| Training and Development Managers | 11-3131 | 70 | $49 | $102,130 | -0.6% |
| Training and Development Specialists | 13-1151 | 1,030 | $25 | $52,070 | 10.8% |
Other Popular State Pages
- Business Schools in Ohio
- Business Schools in Virginia
- Business Schools in Kentucky
- Business Schools in Pennsylvania
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics:https://nces.ed.gov/
2. AACSB, Best Business Schools:https://bestbizschools.aacsb.edu/aacsb-accredited
3. ACBSP, Business Schools:https://acbsp.org/page/accreditation-overview
4. IACBE, Business Schools:https://iacbe.org/accreditation/
5. US Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Outlook Handbook, Business and Financial Occupations: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm
6. US Bureau of Labor Statistics – Employment and Wage Estimates West Virginia: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_wv.htm
7. US News & World Report, 2018 Best Business Schools: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools