One of the most cited reasons that keep people from applying for college is cost. As college costs continue to rise, students are continually trying to find ways to control their budget. One of the best ways that students can get an affordable degree is by choosing to study online. Below, students will find a list of our top nonprofit online colleges in West Virginia that have been ranked based upon their tuition cost per credit.
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Ranking the Best Online Colleges in West Virginia
#1. Marshall University
Located in Huntington, West Virginia, Marshall University is a public research university. Established in 1837, Marshall University originally began a subscription school. Serving the people of Guyandotte and the surrounding areas, the subscription school was officially recognized by the state in 1838. Known as Marshall Academy, Marshall University was named after the fourth Chief Justice of the United States, John Marshall. At the time of its founding, Marshall Academy was not a collegiate institute. Operating in this capacity for the next twenty years, Marshall Academy was renamed to Marshall College in 1858 but was still not offering students college degrees. During the Civil War, Marshall College was shut down. Fortunately, the school was reestablished as the State Normal School of Marshall College. Now supported by the state, the State Normal School of Marshall College was ready with the resources it needed to grow. Expanding throughout the course of the 20th century, the State Normal School of Marshall College began to offer bachelor’s degrees, prompting the school to be renamed Marshall College. Adding master’s degrees in 1938, Marshall College was eventually renamed to Marshall University.
Enrolling 13,600 students, Marshall University offers its students many different academic programs from which to select. At the time of this writing, students at Marshall University can enroll in over 100 different degree programs including bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral programs and more. A number of these programs are also made available to students entirely online. By dedicating itself to online learning, Marshall University has ranked among our top online universities and colleges in West Virginia. Marshall University is a public institution.
Accreditation: Marshall University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $294/credit
Click here for a list of Marshall University‘s online programs.
#2. West Virginia State University
Established in 1891, West Virginia State University is a historically black public university. Located in Institute, West Virginia, West Virginia State University was first established as the West Virginia Colored Institute. Funded by the Morrill Act, the West Virginia Colored Institute began enrolling its first class of students in 1892. Up until 1915, the West Virginia Colored Institute provided students with a high school education as well as teacher and vocational training. It wasn’t until 1915 that the school had begun to offer college degrees which also resulted in the school being renamed to the West Virginia Collegiate Institute. In 1929, the school was renamed to West Virginia State College. Ten years later, West Virginia State College made history when it became one of six HBCUs to participate in the Civil Aeronautics Authority’s aviation program. Following the ruling of Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, West Virginia State College became desegregated. Continuing to grow through the decades, West Virginia State College was renamed to West Virginia State University in 2004. Today, West Virginia State University enrolls a student body of 3,900 students.
Home of the Yellow Jackets, West Virginia State University currently offers its student many different academic programs to enroll in. At the time of this writing, over twenty different undergraduate degrees are available as well as six different master’s degrees. A portion of these programs is also made available to students online. By dedicating resources to online education, West Virginia State University has ranked among our top online universities and colleges in West Virginia. West Virginia State University is a public institution.
Accreditation: West Virginia State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $316/credit
Click here for a list of West Virginia State University‘s online programs.
#3. West Virginia University
One of the largest universities in the state of West Virginia, West Virginia University is a public research university. With the motto “To faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge”, West Virginia University was established in 1867. Founded as the Agricultural College of West Virginia, West Virginia University was funded through the Morrill Land Act. Six years after opening, the Agricultural College of West Virginia was renamed West Virginia University to better reflect the school’s ambitions of academic offerings. Occupying the former spaces of three different schools, West Virginia University was poised to grow into one of the state’s most prominent institutions of higher learning. Over the course of the early 20th century, West Virginia University went through a period of immense growth as its enrollment numbers soared. With the increase in student population, West Virginia University also began expanding its academic programming by establishing a variety of different new colleges to make up the institution. Today, West Virginia University enrolls nearly 30,000 students at its campus in Morgantown, West Virginia.
West Virginia University offers its student body a massive catalog of degree programs from which to enroll in. At the time of this writing, students at West Virginia University can select from over 190 different programs including bachelor’s, masters and doctoral degree programs. A large portion of these programs is also made available to students entirely online ensuring West Virginia University a place among our top online universities and colleges in West Virginia. West Virginia University is a public institution.
Accreditation: West Virginia University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $369/credit
Click here for a list of West Virginia University‘s online programs.
#4. University of Charleston
Located in Charleston, West Virginia, the University of Charleston is a private university. Originally established in 1888, the University of Charleston was founded as the Barboursville Seminary of the Southern Methodist Church. The school was later renamed to Morris Harvey College in 1901 to honor one of the school’s most beloved benefactors. Located on the outskirts of town, Morris Harvey College was relocated to downtown Charleston in 1935. It was there that Morris Harvey College began a partnership with the Mason College of Fine Arts. In 1940, Morris Harvey College ended its partnership with the Methodist Church. Seven years later, the school relocated to a different area of Charleston at which the school is still located to this very day. Enduring financial struggles during the Vietnam War, Morris Harvey College set out to reinvent itself following the war. Having renamed itself to the University of Charleston, the school then began focusing on expanding the type of academic programs offered at the school. This refocusing allowed the University of Charleston to attract more students and really begin to succeed. Today, the University of Charleston enrolls over 2,100 students.
Students at the University of Charleston can choose to select from one of the many different academic programs currently offered by the school. At this time, the University of Charleston is offering students over forty different undergraduate degree programs as well as a variety of graduate and postgraduate options. Students at the University of Charleston can also select from ten different online degree programs. With this dedication to online education, the University of Charleston has placed among our top online universities and colleges in West Virginia. University of Charleston is a private institution.
Accreditation: University of Charleston is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Tuition: $380/credit
Click here for a list of University of Charleston’s online programs.
#5. Bluefield State College
Established in 1895, Bluefield State College is a historically black college. The only non-residential college in the West Virginia state system, Bluefield State College is located in Bluefield, West Virginia. Originally named the Bluefield Colored Institute, Bluefield State College began its history as a high school for African American students. Commonly referring to the school as the Bluefield Institute, Bluefield State College underwent a significant change starting in 1909. Led by Robert P. Sims, Bluefield Institute shifted its curriculum to match that of a normal school. Soon, Bluefield Institute was playing an integral role in training teachers for schools throughout the state of West Virginia. The addition of teacher training led to plans of adding traditional degree programs to the Bluefield Institute curriculum. By 1943, the Bluefield Institute was renamed to Bluefield State College and had begun to offer students college-level programming. In 1947, Bluefield State College had received official accreditation from the state of West Virginia. Desegregated in the 1960s, Bluefield State College continued to add additional programs to its academic offerings. Today, Bluefield State College is still regarded as one of West Virginia’s premier colleges.
Home of the Big Blues, Bluefield State College has grown to offer students many different academic programs to select from. At this time, students can choose from over twenty different undergraduate degree programs to enroll in as well as a number of graduate programs. Bluefield State College also offers around a dozen of these degree programs to students entirely online. By committing to online education, Bluefield State College has ranked among our top online universities and colleges in West Virginia. Bluefield State College is a public institution.
Accreditation: Bluefield State College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Tuition: $564/credit
Click here for a list of Bluefield State College‘s online programs.
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