West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia · Public · 89.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 64/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
West Virginia University earns a 64/100 ROI score and a Fair Value tier. The numbers tell a balanced story: average earnings six years after entry are $39,300, climbing to a median $55,939 by year ten. Net price averages $15,634 against a $10,104 in-state tuition and $28,608 out-of-state, with a four-year total cost of $62,536. The implied payback period is 9.7 years. Median federal debt is $22,500 producing a 0.573 debt-to-earnings ratio. The earnings premium of 33.5% is solid but capped by West Virginia's lower regional wage base; many WVU engineering graduates relocate to Pittsburgh, DC, or further afield to fully realize their earnings. The honest read: WVU's ROI proposition is heavily program-dependent. Engineering, computer science, business information systems, and nursing graduates achieve B/B+ grades. Liberal arts, biology, and education graduates land in D grades because base earnings are low against $25K debt.
West Virginia University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,104/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $28,608/yr |
| Average net price | $15,634/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $62,536 |
| 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 | 9.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 64.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 17,385 |
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: $10,104/year ($28,608/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 $15,634/year, or roughly $62,536 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 $9,450/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,273/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 | $9,450 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,501 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,179 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,710 |
| $110,001+ | $20,273 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $9,450 net price. Pell-eligible students layering the $7,395 federal grant can cover most of that. Across four years that's $37,800, manageable on a modest borrowing plan. WVU is a strong access-mission flagship for in-state low-income students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets pay $12,501 ($30K-$48K), $14,179 ($48K-$75K), and $18,710 ($75K-$110K). Aid scales reasonably across the income gradient.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $20,273 - still well below the $28,608 out-of-state sticker, suggesting institutional grants reach this bracket. Over four years that's $81,092 net for in-state high-income; out-of-state high-income families face closer to $114K net unless merit awards apply. For high-income out-of-state families the ROI math is workable only for engineering or CS pathways.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at West Virginia University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $57,359 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $83,750 | B |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $70,165 | D |
| Mechanical Engineering | $90,461 | B |
| Psychology | $51,263 | D |
| Marketing | $69,357 | C |
| Journalism | $58,454 | D |
| Biology | $57,486 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $76,959 | C+ |
| Business Administration and Management | $65,372 | C |
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.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering is a flagship strength at WVU - 161 graduates per cohort, the largest engineering cohort. Graduates earn $71,504 one year out and $90,461 four years out, against $26,242 median debt and a 0.367 debt-to-earnings ratio (B grade). In-state tuition is $10,104. Out-of-state students still get reasonable returns but should price-compare carefully.
Registered Nursing
Nursing posts $71,298 one-year earnings climbing to $83,750 four years out, with $26,000 median debt and a 0.365 debt-to-earnings ratio (B grade). 186 graduates makes this WVU's largest non-engineering professional program. Strong absolute outcomes plus in-state pricing make WVU a good nursing-program value for West Virginia residents.
Computer Science
Computer science graduates earn $74,159 one year out and $98,277 four years out, against $23,026 median debt - a 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ ROI grade. 72 graduates per cohort. The CS program is small relative to engineering but delivers excellent outcomes.
Journalism
Journalism graduates earn $34,075 one year out and $58,454 four years out, with $24,250 median debt and a 0.712 debt-to-earnings ratio - a D ROI grade. 152 graduates makes this a sizable program. The mid-career earnings trajectory is reasonable; entry-year financial strain is real.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology graduates earn $30,145 one year out and $57,359 four years out, with $25,000 median debt and a 0.829 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade). 200 graduates makes this one of WVU's largest pre-professional programs - many students intend to apply to physical therapy, occupational therapy, or PA programs as a next step. As a terminal bachelor's the ROI is poor; as a stepping stone to grad school the math depends entirely on the next-credential outcome.
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’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 | 89.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 490-600 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 520-620 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-26 |
| Enrollment | 17,385 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 21.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,832 |
WVU admits 89% of applicants, with SAT mid-ranges of 490-600 math and 520-620 reading and an ACT composite mid-range of 20-26. The completion rate is 64.7%, with engineering and pre-professional cohorts completing at materially higher rates than the overall figure.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia University (this school) | 64 | $15,634 | $55,939 |
| Northern Arizona University | 64 | $14,158 | $54,384 |
| East Carolina University | 61 | $15,739 | $55,146 |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | 59 | $15,014 | $54,990 |
| Concord University | 30 | $9,966 | $42,703 |
| Bluefield State University | 20 | $13,684 | $38,217 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See West Virginia University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
WVU enrolls 17,385 undergraduates with a 21.6% Pell rate - a relatively middle-class flagship serving West Virginia and surrounding Appalachian states. The fit profile is clearest for in-state students pursuing engineering, computer science, nursing, business information systems, or accounting.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
West Virginia University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $15,634 a year after aid ($62,536 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $55,939 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
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: Common Questions
Is West Virginia University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether West Virginia University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 64/100 on our ROI scale. At $15,634 a year after aid ($62,536 over four years) against $55,939 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does West Virginia 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 $15,634 a year, or roughly $62,536 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 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?
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 9.7 years for West Virginia University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do West Virginia University 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?
The six-year graduation rate is 64.7%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.