West Virginia Wesleyan College
Buckhannon, West Virginia · Private Nonprofit · 93.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 44/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
West Virginia Wesleyan College earns an ROI score of 44 out of 100, near the top of the Poor Value tier and within striking distance of Fair Value. Sticker tuition is $34,090 and the average net price is $18,083, putting four-year total cost at roughly $72,332. The six-year completion rate of 57.1% is materially better than the small-private average and one of the school's strongest signals. Median earnings six years out are $34,000 climbing to $51,593 by year ten, with median debt of $27,000 producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.794 and a modeled payback of 12.8 years. Repayment progress is also above average for the tier: about 78% making progress at year three and 77% at year seven. The big drag on the score is the debt-to-earnings ratio, which reflects modest early-career earnings rather than excessive borrowing; debt is in line with peers, but the early-30s earnings band is low for a residential private. For students drawn to the small-college experience who can secure substantial institutional aid and target nursing, business, or graduate-track sciences, the math is workable.
The data raises concerns about West Virginia Wesleyan College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score44/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $34,090/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $34,090/yr |
| Average net price | $18,083/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $72,332 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,593 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $34,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 57.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 954 |
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: $34,090/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $18,083/year, or roughly $72,332 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 $12,611/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,004/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $27,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $51,593 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.79, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
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 | $12,611 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,807 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,848 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,834 |
| $110,001+ | $24,004 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 face a net price of $12,611 per year, a meaningful discount. Four years totals roughly $50,400 against $51,593 in ten-year median earnings. The math is workable for Pell-eligible students who target nursing or other professional programs and is still tight for liberal arts majors. The West Virginia Promise Scholarship adds material aid for qualifying in-state students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets show $14,807 ($30,001-$48,000) and $14,848 ($48,001-$75,000), which are essentially flat across that band. Above $75,000, net price steps up to $19,834 and then $24,004. The flat middle-income bracket suggests institutional aid plateaus quickly once Pell eligibility ends, which is a pattern middle-income families should pressure-test against their specific offer.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $24,004 a year, or roughly $96,000 over four years. With ten-year median earnings of $51,593, that price tag only makes sense for full-pay families willing to absorb the cost from savings, or for students with a defined professional pathway like nursing or pre-PT where the earnings premium justifies the spend.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at West Virginia Wesleyan College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $58,239 | F |
| Business Administration and Management | $60,815 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $80,901 | B+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $57,335 | D |
| Physics | $89,430 | - |
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.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is the strongest documented program, with 17 graduates per year reaching $80,901 in four-year earnings against $27,000 in median debt. First-year earnings are not reported, but the 0.334 debt-to-earnings ratio and B+ ROI grade make this the most defensible major on campus. West Virginia's persistent rural nursing shortage means BSN graduates find immediate placement in WVU Medicine and regional hospital systems, and the program's small cohorts provide unusually strong clinical supervision.
Business Administration and Management
Business graduates 18 students with $31,424 in first-year earnings rising to $60,815 by year four against $26,000 in median debt. The 0.827 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a D ROI grade. The four-year earnings figure is respectable but the first-year number suggests slow ramp into management roles. Students should aggressively target internships in Pittsburgh or Charleston regional employers to accelerate that ramp.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice produces 17 graduates with $31,400 in first-year earnings and $57,335 by year four against $27,000 in median debt. The 0.86 debt-to-earnings ratio and D ROI grade are typical for the field; the credential pairs well with West Virginia State Police, Department of Corrections, and federal agency hiring across the region. The math improves materially for graduates moving into federal law enforcement.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology graduates 20 students with $24,526 in first-year earnings rising to $58,239 by year four against $27,000 in median debt. The 1.101 debt-to-earnings ratio and F ROI grade reflect the structural weakness of the bachelor's-only path. The four-year earnings figure suggests many graduates complete physical therapy or athletic training graduate programs, which is the only path where this major pays back. Students should commit to that next step before enrolling.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 73.1% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 78.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.1% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 77.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How West Virginia Wesleyan College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
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 | 93.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 420-560 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 472-600 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 16-23 |
| Enrollment | 954 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 37.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,450 |
West Virginia Wesleyan admits 93.3% of applicants, which is effectively open admission. SAT mid-ranges are 420-560 Math and 472-600 Reading, with ACT Composite 16-23, well below the national medians. The 93% admit rate paired with a 57.1% completion rate is actually a favorable spread: the school admits broadly but completes its students at a meaningfully higher rate than most access-oriented privates, which is the more important metric for prospective borrowers.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peers in the CampusROI dataset include Appalachian Bible College, Bethany College (WV), Rockford University, Hiram College, and Franklin Pierce University. Within this cohort, West Virginia Wesleyan is above average on completion and repayment progress. Hiram and Franklin Pierce post comparable ROI profiles, while Bethany (WV) generally tracks below. None of these schools post strong ROI, but West Virginia Wesleyan's 44 is among the better outcomes in the small Appalachian private cohort.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia Wesleyan College (this school) | 44 | $18,083 | $51,593 |
| Rockford University | 47 | $22,436 | $54,794 |
| Hiram College | 44 | $21,058 | $54,311 |
| Appalachian Bible College | 40 | $11,579 | $37,467 |
| Franklin Pierce University | 39 | $27,154 | $53,353 |
| Bethany College | 25 | $18,605 | $44,512 |
Who Thrives Here
With 954 students and a Pell rate of 37.6%, West Virginia Wesleyan serves a small, mostly West Virginia and surrounding-Appalachia population in a residential setting. The right fit is a West Virginia, western Pennsylvania, or Ohio student headed for nursing, pre-physical therapy, biology, or education who values a 12:1 type teaching environment and qualifies for substantial Methodist-affiliated institutional aid. Students who would borrow at sticker without a clear professional pathway should look hard at West Virginia University or in-state public regionals first.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at West Virginia Wesleyan College are a real concern. With a net cost of $18,083 per year and the typical graduate earning only $51,593 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 12.8 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost - go in with your eyes open.
What to keep an eye on: high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $27,000 against $51,593 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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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.