Best small colleges in West Virginia
Colleges with fewer than 2,000 undergraduates, ranked by Compass Score.
Best small colleges in West Virginia12 schools
12 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in West Virginia.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Fewer than 2,000 undergraduate students (federal enrollment).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Valley College-Martinsburg
Martinsburg, WV · Private for-profitTop 6% for low debt
- 651 undergraduates
- 66% graduate
- 2
- 3
West Virginia University Institute of Technology
Beckley, WV · PublicTop 13% for low net price
- 1,448 undergraduates
- 33% graduate
- 4
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Buckhannon, WV · Private nonprofit#8 in West Virginia
- 938 undergraduates
- 57% graduate
- 5
Potomac State College of West Virginia University
Keyser, WV · PublicTop 13% for low net price
- 1,143 undergraduates
- 31% graduate
- 6
- 7
Glenville State University
Glenville, WV · Public#13 in West Virginia
- 1,583 undergraduates
- 34% graduate
- 8
Wheeling University
Wheeling, WV · Private nonprofit#14 in West Virginia
- 588 undergraduates
- 23% graduate
- 9
- 10
Bluefield State University
Bluefield, WV · Public#16 in West Virginia
- 1,249 undergraduates
- 37% graduate
- 11
Salem University
Salem, WV · Private for-profitTop 23% for low net price
- 695 undergraduates
- 20% graduate
- 12
Davis & Elkins College
Elkins, WV · Private nonprofit#18 in West Virginia
- 683 undergraduates
- 39% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley College-Martinsburg | About $26,000 | $9,500 | $24,900 | 66% |
| West Liberty University | About $15,000 | $23,250 | $43,296 | 60% |
| West Virginia University Institute of Technology | About $9,000 | $22,500 | $55,939 | 33% |
| West Virginia Wesleyan College | About $18,000 | $27,000 | $51,593 | 57% |
| Potomac State College of West Virginia University | About $9,000 | $22,500 | $55,939 | 31% |
| Bethany College | About $19,000 | $27,000 | $44,512 | 47% |
| Glenville State University | About $14,000 | $25,000 | $39,315 | 34% |
| Wheeling University | About $21,000 | $25,125 | $57,949 | 23% |
| Concord University | About $10,000 | $18,900 | $42,703 | 39% |
| Bluefield State University | About $14,000 | $18,250 | $38,217 | 37% |
| Salem University | About $12,000 | $24,694 | $34,642 | 20% |
| Davis & Elkins College | About $18,000 | $27,000 | $43,411 | 39% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 10
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 13
- California 63
- Colorado 5
- Connecticut 10
- Florida 27
- Georgia 24
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 25
- Indiana 20
- Iowa 23
- Kansas 18
- Kentucky 18
- Louisiana 8
- Maine 11
- Maryland 13
- Massachusetts 31
- Michigan 23
- Minnesota 19
- Mississippi 8
- Missouri 31
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 12
- New Hampshire 7
- New Jersey 18
- New Mexico 7
- New York 55
- North Carolina 34
- North Dakota 4
- Ohio 58
- Oklahoma 11
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 69
- Puerto Rico 31
- South Carolina 19
- South Dakota 5
- Tennessee 24
- Texas 31
- Utah 7
- Vermont 4
- Virginia 30
- Washington 12
- Wisconsin 15