West Liberty University
West Liberty, West Virginia · Public · 97.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 27/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
West Liberty University earns a Below Benchmark ROI score of 27. The West Virginia regional public charges in-state tuition of $8,893 (out-of-state $17,442), with net price of $15,366 and four-year cost of $61,464. The price is reasonable; the outcomes are not. Average earnings six years out are just $30,600, climbing only to a median $43,296 by year ten. Payback period stretches to 24.3 years, and the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.76. The repayment rate is 61.6% - nearly 40% of borrowers aren't paying down principal. Completion rate of 59.5% is mediocre. Median debt is $23,250. The bright spots are the nursing and dental support programs, which produce real economic returns; everything else struggles. As of 2024-2025 Scorecard data, West Liberty's value proposition rests entirely on program choice - and even then, the dominant business and liberal arts programs earn D and F ROI grades. This is a serious warning for prospective students.
How West Liberty University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score27/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period24.3 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
West Liberty University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,893/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $17,442/yr |
| Average net price | $15,366/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $61,464 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $43,296 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $30,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $246 |
| Estimated payback period | 24.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 59.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,511 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $8,893/year ($17,442/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $15,366/year, or roughly $61,464 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $12,714/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,566/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,250, which works out to about $246 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($30,600) and comes to 0.76, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,714 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,460 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,087 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,362 |
| $110,001+ | $18,566 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $12,714 net - higher than expected given the modest sticker tuition. Four-year cost over $50,000 against $30,600 six-year earnings. In our view, the math is weak for Pell-eligible students unless they enter nursing. The 61.6% repayment rate suggests many low-income graduates here end up in deferment or forbearance, not actively paying down loans.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $15,087 - close to the school average. Four-year cost approaches $60,000. The brackets are progressive (no inversions). For nursing-bound students the case is reasonable; for everyone else, the modest tuition can't compensate for weak earnings.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($110,001+) pay $18,566 - the highest bracket, consistent with a progressive aid formula. Four-year cost around $74,000. The weak earnings outcomes raise hard questions about whether the savings justify the opportunity cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at West Liberty University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $50,824 | D |
| Biology | $56,691 | D |
| Dental Support Services | $61,801 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $44,539 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $53,707 | F |
| Registered Nursing | $82,117 | B |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $50,061 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $45,353 | C |
| Social Sciences, General | $43,532 | - |
| Communication Disorders Sciences | $47,212 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business is West Liberty's largest program with 69 graduates annually but produces weak outcomes - first-year earnings of $34,713 against $27,000 debt yield a 0.778 ratio and D ROI grade. Earnings recover to $50,824 by year four. West Virginia's weak commercial economy limits placement opportunities.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is West Liberty's standout program: 26 graduates earn $71,848 in year one rising to $82,117 by year four. Median debt of $29,408 produces a healthy 0.409 ratio and B ROI grade - the highest at the institution. Regional demand for RNs in West Virginia, eastern Ohio, and western Pennsylvania supports the wages. If you can get into and through the nursing program, the financial case works.
Dental Support Services
Dental Support Services graduates 34 students annually with first-year earnings of $53,420 climbing to $61,801 by year four. Median debt of $27,000 yields a 0.505 ratio and C+ ROI grade. The program (likely dental hygiene) leverages strong regional demand for dental professionals. A solid second financial bet within the West Liberty lineup.
Biology
Biology graduates 41 students annually with weak immediate outcomes - first-year earnings of $29,559 against $22,500 debt produces a 0.761 ratio and D ROI grade. Earnings recover to $56,691 by year four, consistent with many graduates entering health professional school. The bachelor's-only economics are poor; without a clear pre-health plan, this program does not work financially.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology has 29 graduates with first-year earnings of $24,139 against $28,000 debt, which produces a 1.16 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F ROI grade. Earnings recover somewhat to $53,707 by year four but the immediate post-graduation math is unfavorable. Students should not enroll in this program without a clear pathway to physical therapy, athletic training certification, or graduate school.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 59.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 61.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 55.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 59.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How West Liberty University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 97.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 420-543 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 470-580 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-24 |
| Enrollment | 1,511 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 31.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,150 |
West Liberty admits 97.3% of applicants - effectively open admission. SAT mid-ranges (420-543 math, 470-580 reading) and ACT 18-24 indicate a student body with academic preparation well below college-readiness benchmarks. Academic preparation gaps likely contribute to both the modest completion and the weak post-graduation earnings.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Liberty University (this school) | 27 | $15,366 | $43,296 |
| Concord University | 30 | $9,966 | $42,703 |
| Adams State University | 29 | $12,980 | $44,372 |
| Delta State University | 29 | $13,540 | $41,991 |
| Henderson State University | 25 | $23,405 | $43,459 |
| Bluefield State University | 20 | $13,684 | $38,217 |
Who Thrives Here
West Liberty fits West Virginia students seeking affordable in-state tuition and committed specifically to nursing or dental support - the school's two clearly working programs. Enrollment of 1,511 is small. Pell rate of 31.9% indicates a working-class student body. Other majors show lower grades: kinesiology earns an F (debt-to-earnings 1.16), liberal arts a D (0.829), business a D (0.778).
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, West Liberty University scores 27/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $15,366 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $43,296 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 24.3 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 61.6% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $23,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $30,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
West Liberty University: Common Questions
Is West Liberty University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. West Liberty University scores 27/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $15,366 a year after aid against $43,296 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 24.3 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does West Liberty University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $15,366 a year, or roughly $61,464 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do West Liberty University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $43,296 ten years after enrolling, roughly $1,496 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off West Liberty University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 24.3 years for West Liberty University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do West Liberty University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,250, against average earnings of $30,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at West Liberty University?
The six-year graduation rate is 59.5%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.