West Virginia University Institute of Technology
Beckley, West Virginia · Public · 36.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 64/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
WVU Institute of Technology scores 64 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale - a complicated result that illustrates how a single low metric can pull down otherwise reasonable performance. The earnings premium score is 92 (very high), reflecting strong engineering program salaries relative to cost. But the completion rate is 33.0% - only one in three students earns a degree. That attrition crushes the overall score. In-state net price is $9,337. Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering all show year-one earnings in the $71,000-$80,000 range with B and B+ ROI grades. The completion problem is structural: a 33% completion rate against solid engineer earnings is a signal that many students who enter do not finish, either by transferring, leaving, or not progressing through the technical curriculum.
How West Virginia University Institute of Technology 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.
- 6-year graduation rate33.0% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
West Virginia University Institute of Technology
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,424/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $21,072/yr |
| Average net price | $9,337/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $37,348 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,939 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $239 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 33.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 981 |
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: $8,424/year ($21,072/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 $9,337/year, or roughly $37,348 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 $6,998/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $14,797/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,500, which works out to about $239 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,300) and comes to 0.57, 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 | $6,998 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $6,752 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $9,137 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $11,861 |
| $110,001+ | $14,797 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $6,998 per year - under $28,000 over four years. Against $39,300 average 6-year earnings and engineering program year-one salaries in the $70,000-$80,000 range, this is exceptional value for students who complete. The 33% completion rate is the risk: low-income students who do not complete have accumulated debt for a credential they did not earn.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $9,137 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $11,861 per year. These are very low net prices. Middle-income families whose students complete an engineering degree here face nearly no financial risk - $47,000 total over four years against $70,000+ year-one engineering earnings. The completion risk is the primary concern.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $14,797 per year - about $59,000 over four years. Even at full family contribution, WVU Tech's cost structure is exceptional for engineering outcomes. The out-of-state tuition ($21,072) is a different calculus for non-West Virginia families, but in-state access at these price points is genuinely valuable.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at West Virginia University Institute of Technology with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $57,486 | D |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $56,132 | D |
| Psychology | $51,263 | D |
| Civil Engineering | $82,117 | B |
| Mechanical Engineering | $90,461 | B |
| Business Administration and Management | $65,372 | C |
| Accounting | $76,135 | C+ |
| International Relations | $56,969 | D |
| Security Science and Technology | $62,455 | C |
| Computer Engineering | $99,048 | B+ |
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.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering (3 graduates reported) shows $79,662 year-one and $99,542 at year four (B+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.282, median debt $22,500). Outcomes are strong but the cohort of 3 limits statistical significance. For students who complete, this program produces competitive outcomes.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (10 graduates) earns $71,504 year-one and $90,461 at year four (B grade, debt-to-earnings 0.367, median debt $26,242). Solid outcomes for a public engineering program in West Virginia. Year-one earnings of $71k reflect entry-level mechanical engineering in regional and national markets.
Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering (11 graduates) earns $67,062 year-one and $82,117 at year four (B grade, debt-to-earnings 0.362, median debt $24,291). Civil engineering outcomes are consistent nationally, and WVU Tech's cost structure makes the debt-to-earnings ratio manageable. Year-one of $67k is solid for regional civil engineering placement.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing shows $71,298 year-one and $83,750 at year four (B grade, debt-to-earnings 0.365, median debt $26,000) with zero graduates reported for the most recent cohort. The zero graduate count suggests very small recent cohorts. The B grade reflects solid outcomes at low public cost.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 67.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 71.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 64.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 71.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How West Virginia University Institute of Technology’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 | 36.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 420-550 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 460-570 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-23 |
| Enrollment | 981 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 27.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,140 |
WVU Tech admits 36.7% of applicants, with SAT Math 420-550 and ACT 19-23. The completion rate is 33%.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The 33% completion rate is the dominant distinguishing feature.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia University Institute of Technology (this school) | 64 | $9,337 | $55,939 |
| Miami University-Middletown | 63 | $10,809 | $55,076 |
| Dickinson State University | 62 | $14,092 | $50,720 |
| Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus | 60 | $5,755 | $52,581 |
| Concord University | 30 | $9,966 | $42,703 |
| Bluefield State University | 20 | $13,684 | $38,217 |
Who Thrives Here
WVU Tech admits 36.7% of applicants. Enrollment is 981. The 27.4% Pell grant rate reflects significant financial need. Students who complete engineering degrees here achieve strong early-career outcomes. The core question is completion: students should honestly assess their preparation for rigorous engineering coursework before enrolling. Students who are borderline-prepared for engineering may face attrition.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
West Virginia University Institute of Technology is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $9,337 a year after aid ($37,348 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $55,939 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: its 33.0% graduation rate.
Median debt of $22,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
West Virginia University Institute of Technology: Common Questions
Is West Virginia University Institute of Technology worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether West Virginia University Institute of Technology is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 64/100 on our ROI scale. At $9,337 a year after aid ($37,348 over four years) against $55,939 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does West Virginia University Institute of Technology 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 $9,337 a year, or roughly $37,348 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 Virginia University Institute of Technology graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $55,939 ten years after enrolling, roughly $14,139 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 Virginia University Institute of Technology?
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 8.5 years for West Virginia University Institute of Technology. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do West Virginia University Institute of Technology graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,500, against average earnings of $39,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at West Virginia University Institute of Technology?
The six-year graduation rate is 33.0%. 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.