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CollegeRanker
Public Athens, WV · Rural · Southeast · 100% data
B Value B Affordability C+ Earnings
Graduation Rate
41% D+
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$42,703 C+
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$9,966 B
42% less than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
93% D
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +5% vs avg
Graduation -29% vs avg
Net Price +-42% vs avg
Mobility Top 52%

Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 30.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $30.0 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Education Colleges in West Virginia.

30.0× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $30.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,155,029.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduation of 41% — 29% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $30.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Concord University Matters

Concord University is a public university in Athens, WV and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
1,504
Setting
Rural
Primary Strengths
Humanities, Education, Business & Marketing, Health Professions

Why students choose Concord University

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Humanities
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 50% overall
C+
Earnings
$42,703 median
B
Value
4.3× net price
B
Affordability
$9,966/yr net
D+
Graduation
41% graduate
C
Social Mobility
1.4% climb Q1→Q5
D
Selectivity
93% admit rate
D
Diversity
0.37 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an acceptance rate of 93%, Concord University is a welcoming option for students seeking a supportive learning environment. It suits those who thrive in smaller settings, given its enrollment of around 1,500 students. Here, you can dive into programs like Humanities, Business & Marketing, Education, Biology & Biomedical, and Psychology. These fields offer practical skills and knowledge that can directly translate into career opportunities.

After graduation, the average earnings for Concord alumni hover around $42,703 after ten years. While the graduation rate stands at 41%, the data suggests that those who do complete their degrees often find themselves in better financial positions. The affordability of attending is significant, with a net price of about $9,966, making it a feasible option for many. The fact that 50% of students receive Pell Grants underscores the university’s commitment to helping those who may need financial assistance.

When it comes to the bottom line, the median debt for graduates sits at $18,900, which is manageable given the earning potential. Students who tend to thrive here are often those looking for a close-knit community and supportive faculty. If you're someone who values a personal touch in education and a clear path to career preparation, this could be a great fit for you.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Concord University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Concord University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Athens, West Virginia, Concord University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 93%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 977. The graduation rate is roughly 41%.

Acceptance Rate
93%
Retention Rate
65%
SAT Average
977
ACT Midpoint
21
SAT Range
830–1090
ACT Range
17–24
Full-Time Faculty
82%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$7,270
Student–Faculty Ratio
15:1
Diversity Index
0.37
First-Gen Students
48%
Applicants
1,730
Admitted
1,581

Inside the Admissions Office

School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25

The acceptance rate tells you how hard Concord University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 18% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.

Yield Rate
18%
of admits enroll
Submitted SAT
11%
of enrolled freshmen
Submitted ACT
21%
of enrolled freshmen

Test-optional, in practice. Only about 32% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.

Source: Concord University's Common Data Set, 2024-25 View the source document on collegedata.fyi →

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Concord University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Concord University is $22,000, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,966. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,021 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,900 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$10,664
Out-of-State
$22,000
Avg Net Price
$9,966
Median Debt
$18,900
Pell Grant Rate
50%
Federal Loan Rate
46%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$8,021
Family Income $30K–$48K
$6,930
Family Income $48K–$75K
$10,438
Family Income $110K+
$15,472

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Concord University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Concord University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Concord University report median earnings of $42,703, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$33,094
8 Years
$38,712
10 Years
$42,703
Debt-to-Earnings
0.44x
Earning > $25K
51%

Earnings Trajectory

$33,094 6yr $38,712 8yr $42,703 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (116)
28%
100% (116)
28%
100% (116)
28%
100% (116)
28%

How Concord Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation41%Earnings 10yr$43KNet Price$10KRetention65%Median Debt$19KPell Grant Rate50%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$8K$0-30K$7K$30-48K$10K$48-75K$15K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%13.0%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%11.0%MOBILITY1.43%

College ROI Calculator

Is Concord University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Concord University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,966/year ($39,864 total). Graduates earn $42,703 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,194,893 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,155,029 (30.0× your investment). The median debt is $18,900, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 41% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$39,864
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,194,893
Net Return
$1,155,029
ROI Multiple
30.0×
Cost Per Year
$9,966
Median Debt
$18,900
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
41%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Concord University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Concord University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.43%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
1.43%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
11.0%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
13.0%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$90,758
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Concord University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Concord University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.51, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.51
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.04
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
10.8%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$4,409,479
Investment Income
$-801,568

Top Programs

The fields Concord University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Concord University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Athens, West Virginia, Concord University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 93%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 977. The graduation rate is roughly 41%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Concord University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Concord University is $22,000, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,966. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,021 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,900 in federal student loans.

Is Concord University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Concord University report median earnings of $42,703, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Does Concord University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Concord University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.43%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Concord University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Concord University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.51, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Does Concord University offer Early Decision?

No. Concord University does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).

Is Concord University really test-optional?

In practice, yes. Only about 32% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Concord University (2024-25 Common Data Set).

What percentage of admitted students enroll at Concord University?

About 18% of admitted students choose to enroll at Concord University — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.

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Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Concord University.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys