2026 Best Value Graduate Degrees Schools in West Virginia
Looking for the best-value Graduate Degrees degree programs in West Virginia? This list ranks 68 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Grad Degree reviewed 12 schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in West Virginia
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Our analysis found American Public University System to be the best-value Graduate Degrees school in West Virginia. This private for-profit school is set in Charles Town, WV. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400. Students borrow a median of $23,438 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,409. That is a strong return on a $23,438 median debt. More on American Public University System
Out of the 12 schools in West Virginia in this year's value ranking, West Liberty University landed the #2 spot. Set in West Liberty, WV, West Liberty University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,893, with out-of-state students paying around $17,442. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $27,144. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,296. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. West Liberty University admits about 97% of applicants. See the full West Liberty University profile
A rank of #3 makes Wheeling Jesuit University one of the best values in West Virginia. This private not-for-profit school is set in Wheeling, WV. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,875. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $27,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $57,949. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wheeling Jesuit University has an acceptance rate of 63%. Get the full Wheeling Jesuit University report
You'll get strong value at West Virginia University, which ranked #4 this year. West Virginia University is a public school based in Morgantown, WV. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. West Virginia University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $23,772 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,939. That is a strong return on a $23,772 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on West Virginia University
You'll get strong value at Shepherd University, which ranked #5 this year. Located in Shepherdstown, WV, Shepherd University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,056, while out-of-state students pay about $19,082. Students borrow a median of $23,326 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Shepherd University alumni report median earnings of $49,358 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Shepherd University
Fairmont State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Set in Fairmont, WV, Fairmont State University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,708 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,924. Fairmont State University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $26,447 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $46,857. That is a strong return on a $26,447 median debt. Fairmont State University has an acceptance rate of 99%. Get the full Fairmont State University report
Marshall University came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Huntington, WV. In-state tuition and fees average $9,162, with out-of-state students paying around $20,342. Graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $46,354. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Marshall University has an acceptance rate of 96%. More on Marshall University
Concord University offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Concord University is a public school based in Athens, WV. Students from in state pay about $10,664 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,000. Concord University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $20,214 in debt. Median earnings reach $42,703 ten years out. Set against $20,214 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted. More on Concord University
West Virginia Wesleyan College came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Buckhannon, WV. In-state tuition and fees average $34,090. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $26,857. West Virginia Wesleyan College alumni report median earnings of $51,593 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,857 median debt. West Virginia Wesleyan College has an acceptance rate of 93%. More on West Virginia Wesleyan College
University Of Charleston landed the #10 spot for value in West Virginia this year. Located in Charleston, WV, University Of Charleston is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $22,617. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $22,646. Median earnings reach $55,774 ten years out. Set against $22,646 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 62% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about University Of Charleston
West Virginia State University came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Located in Institute, WV, West Virginia State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,570, while out-of-state students pay about $14,990. West Virginia State University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $28,452 in debt. Median earnings reach $40,492 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%. More on West Virginia State University
Salem International University offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Salem, WV, Salem International University is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,070. Salem International University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $28,797 in debt. Median earnings reach $34,642 ten years out. Set against $28,797 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Salem International University
Pierpont Community And Technical College came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Pierpont Community And Technical College
B M Spurr School Of Practical Nursing offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. More on B M Spurr School Of Practical Nursing
Ross Medical Education Center Charleston placed #15 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in West Virginia. Read the full report on Ross Medical Education Center Charleston
Bluefield State College landed the #16 spot for value in West Virginia this year. Get the full Bluefield State College report
Bethany College West Virginia came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. More on Bethany College West Virginia
Ross Medical Education Center Morgantown placed #18 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in West Virginia. See the full Ross Medical Education Center Morgantown profile
John D Rockefeller Iv Career Center offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. More on John D Rockefeller Iv Career Center
West Virginia Junior College Morgantown landed the #20 spot for value in West Virginia this year. Get the full West Virginia Junior College Morgantown report
West Virginia School Of Osteopathic Medicine placed #21 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in West Virginia. Get the full West Virginia School Of Osteopathic Medicine report
Huntington School Of Beauty Culture landed the #22 spot for value in West Virginia this year. Get the full Huntington School Of Beauty Culture report
Valley College Beckley landed the #23 spot for value in West Virginia this year. Read the full report on Valley College Beckley
Carver Career Center landed the #24 spot for value in West Virginia this year. See the full Carver Career Center profile
Charleston School Of Beauty Culture ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Read the full report on Charleston School Of Beauty Culture
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in West Virginia
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Glenville State College ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. More on Glenville State College
Martinsburg College offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. See the full Martinsburg College profile
Valley College Martinsburg landed the #28 spot for value in West Virginia this year. Read the full report on Valley College Martinsburg
Ben Franklin Career Center ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. More on Ben Franklin Career Center
United Technical Center offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. Get the full United Technical Center report
Ralph R Willis Career And Technical Center landed the #31 spot for value in West Virginia this year. Read more about Ralph R Willis Career And Technical Center
West Virginia Junior College Charleston placed #32 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in West Virginia. See the full West Virginia Junior College Charleston profile
Blue Ridge Community And Technical College landed the #33 spot for value in West Virginia this year. Get the full Blue Ridge Community And Technical College report
Randolph Technical Center offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. Get the full Randolph Technical Center report
Davis And Elkins College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. See the full Davis And Elkins College profile
West Virginia University At Parkersburg came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. See the full West Virginia University At Parkersburg profile
Monongalia County Technical Education Center offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. See the full Monongalia County Technical Education Center profile
Bridgevalley Community And Technical College came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. More on Bridgevalley Community And Technical College
International Beauty School 4 offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Get the full International Beauty School 4 report
Morgantown Beauty College Inc landed the #40 spot for value in West Virginia this year. See the full Morgantown Beauty College Inc profile
Fred W Eberle Technical Center ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. See the full Fred W Eberle Technical Center profile
Future Generations Graduate School landed the #42 spot for value in West Virginia this year. Read more about Future Generations Graduate School
Boone Career And Technical Center came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Boone Career And Technical Center report
Cabell County Career Technology Center ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Cabell County Career Technology Center
James Rumsey Technical Institute landed the #45 spot for value in West Virginia this year. More on James Rumsey Technical Institute
Putnam Career And Technical Center came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. See the full Putnam Career And Technical Center profile
Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College placed #47 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in West Virginia. See the full Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College profile
Wood County School Of Practical Nursing ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Wood County School Of Practical Nursing
Huntington Junior College landed the #49 spot for value in West Virginia this year. Get the full Huntington Junior College report
Roane Jackson Technical Center came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Roane Jackson Technical Center
More Graduate Degrees Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 12 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 68 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).