Public Bachelor's Strong 80/100

West Virginia University at Parkersburg

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Parkersburg, West Virginia

About West Virginia University at Parkersburg

West Virginia University at Parkersburg is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Parkersburg, West Virginia. It enrolls 1,868 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Graduation
24.3%
Net Price
$1,807
Median Earnings (10yr)
$35,171
Enrollment
1,868
Student : Faculty
15:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong
80/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 51
Value 99
Affordability 68
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending West Virginia University at Parkersburg isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $1,807 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$1,807
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
33%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
18%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$4,612
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$9,124
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,544
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,673
Total Cost of Attendance
$9,420

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $723
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $50
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $1,589
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $5,407
  • Over $110,000
    $7,562

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$2,227
10% percentile
$3,314
25% percentile
$12,570
Median percentile
$13,404
75% percentile
$24,502
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $8,750 ↓ $3,820
No Pell $6,462 ↓ $6,108
Dependent students $7,062 ↓ $5,508
Independent students $9,500 ↓ $3,070
Female students $8,315 ↓ $4,255
Male students $8,000 ↓ $4,570
Pell recipients: 18.2% (2,287 students)No Pell: 13.4% (1,689 students)Dependent students: 14.7% (1,846 students)Independent students: 19.8% (2,483 students)Female students: 17.3% (2,173 students)Male students: 16.6% (2,091 students)Overall Median$12,570
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,436, less than completers ($12,570), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

24% of full-time students who enrolled at West Virginia University at Parkersburg graduate within six years, and 100% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
24%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
100%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered West Virginia University at Parkersburg earn a median of $35,171 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$35,171
Earning > $25K
57%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$30,000$32,000$33,000$34,000$36,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$28,500

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$40,400

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$30,200

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$36,000

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$40,100

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $11,900, about 29% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 12.9 pts across 6 years
49.7%1yr52.6%3yr64.5%5yr62.6%7yr
What this signals: Moderate. Only 63% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

West Virginia University at Parkersburg is home to 1,868 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 45% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
1,868
Part-Time
35%
First-Generation
45%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 92.9% 1,735
Other 2.9% 54
Hispanic 1.9% 36
Black 1.4% 26
International 0.5% 10
Asian 0.3% 5
White: 92.9% (1,735 students)Other: 2.9% (54 students)Hispanic: 1.9% (36 students)Black: 1.4% (26 students)International: 0.5% (10 students)Asian: 0.3% (5 students)Total1,868

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at West Virginia University at Parkersburg. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Rural: Fringe Parkersburg, West Virginia
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
24% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

West Virginia University at Parkersburg offers an extensive catalog of programs: 40 distinct programs across 16 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

3 Programs
4 Programs
4 Programs
4 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at West Virginia University at Parkersburg is 15:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,633
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$12M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$55,260
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

58 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 13 22% $68,862
Associate Professors 14 24% $59,330
Assistant Professors 18 31% $51,084
Instructors 13 22% $43,057

Pros & Cons of West Virginia University at Parkersburg

A quick at-a-glance summary of how West Virginia University at Parkersburg tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • Reasonable class sizes
  • Strong first-year retention
  • First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
  • No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for: Based on the data, West Virginia University at Parkersburg is a fit for families focused on keeping net cost low.

Frequently Asked Questions about West Virginia University at Parkersburg

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

How much does West Virginia University at Parkersburg cost?
The average net price after aid at West Virginia University at Parkersburg is $1,807 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is West Virginia University at Parkersburg worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $35,171 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $1,807 per year. That's roughly 19.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is West Virginia University at Parkersburg known for?
West Virginia University at Parkersburg is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do West Virginia University at Parkersburg graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering West Virginia University at Parkersburg are $35,171, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is West Virginia University at Parkersburg accredited?
Yes. West Virginia University at Parkersburg is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend West Virginia University at Parkersburg?
West Virginia University at Parkersburg enrolls 1,868 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at West Virginia University at Parkersburg?
West Virginia University at Parkersburg graduates 24% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is West Virginia University at Parkersburg a public or private college?
West Virginia University at Parkersburg is a Public institution.
Where is West Virginia University at Parkersburg located?
West Virginia University at Parkersburg is located in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
What programs does West Virginia University at Parkersburg offer?
West Virginia University at Parkersburg offers 40 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Liberal Arts, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at West Virginia University at Parkersburg?
The student-to-faculty ratio at West Virginia University at Parkersburg is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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