West Virginia Northern Community College
#3 Most Affordable Colleges in West Virginia- Graduation Rate
- 31% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $30,162 D
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $5,329 A
- 69% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,014
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 27.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $27.3 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Most Affordable Colleges in West Virginia.
Every $1 spent returns $27.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $560,733.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduate earnings fall 26% below the national college median.
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Graduation of 31% — 45% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $27.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why West Virginia Northern Community College Matters
West Virginia Northern Community College is a public community college in Wheeling, 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 Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,014
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Computer Science & IT, Business & Marketing
Why students choose West Virginia Northern Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $5,329 a year after grants and scholarships — 69% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $30,162 ten years after enrolling — 26% below the typical college, against $10,245 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 67% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.17 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
West Virginia Northern Community College is a solid choice for students looking to dive into practical fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Computer Science. With an enrollment of just over 1,000, it fosters a tight-knit community where students can receive personalized attention. This smaller size can create an engaging environment, ideal for those who appreciate closer interactions with peers and faculty.
Looking at the outcomes, graduates can expect to earn about $30,162 a year a decade after finishing their studies. This figure provides a baseline for understanding potential earnings in various fields. The financial landscape is also manageable; with a net price of $5,329 after aid, it’s clear that many students can afford to pursue their education here without accumulating overwhelming debt.
When we talk about costs, the median debt load of $10,245 is reasonable, especially considering the potential return on investment. Students who thrive here tend to be those who appreciate the hands-on education offered within their programs and are motivated to enter the workforce quickly. The 37% of students receiving Pell Grants indicates a commitment to accessibility, ensuring that a diverse range of individuals can seek their goals at this college.
Rankings
- #3 Most Affordable Colleges in West Virginia
- #4 Best Computer Science Colleges in West Virginia
- #4 Best Data Science Colleges in West Virginia
- #6 Best Nursing Colleges in West Virginia
- #6 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in West Virginia
- #8 Best Education Colleges in West Virginia
- #9 Best Online Colleges in West Virginia
- #10 Best Colleges in West Virginia
Can I Get In?
How selective West Virginia Northern Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into West Virginia Northern Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Wheeling, West Virginia, West Virginia Northern Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 31%.
- Retention Rate
- 61%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 38%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,497
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.24
- First-Gen Students
- 49%
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 West Virginia Northern Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at West Virginia Northern Community College is $12,698, 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 $5,329. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,911 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,245 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,706
- Out-of-State
- $12,698
- Avg Net Price
- $5,329
- Median Debt
- $10,245
- Pell Grant Rate
- 37%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 9%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $3,911
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $3,946
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,627
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,332
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 West Virginia Northern Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is West Virginia Northern Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of West Virginia Northern Community College report median earnings of $30,162, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $31,298
- 8 Years
- $30,147
- 10 Years
- $30,162
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.34x
- Earning > $25K
- 38%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (50)
- 20%
- 100% (50)
- 20%
- 100% (50)
- 20%
- 100% (50)
- 20%
How West Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is West Virginia Northern Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, West Virginia Northern Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,329/year ($21,316 total). Graduates earn $30,162 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $582,049 in total earnings — a net gain of $560,733 (27.3× your investment). The median debt is $10,245, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 31% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $21,316
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $582,049
- Net Return
- $560,733
- ROI Multiple
- 27.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $5,329
- Median Debt
- $10,245
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 31%
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 West Virginia Northern Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
West Virginia Northern Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.17%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 17.9% 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 6.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $57,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.17%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 6.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 17.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $78,258
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $2,060,666
- Federal Grants
- $204,828
- Investment Income
- $17,867
Top Programs
The fields West Virginia Northern Community College 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.
- Health Professions 41% $60,214 early-career
- Humanities 19%
- Computer Science & IT 9% $25,556 early-career
- Business & Marketing 7% $26,827 early-career
- Education 4%
- Criminal Justice 3%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 2%
- Precision Production 2%
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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for West Virginia Northern Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into West Virginia Northern Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Wheeling, West Virginia, West Virginia Northern Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 31%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend West Virginia Northern Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at West Virginia Northern Community College is $12,698, 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 $5,329. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,911 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,245 in federal student loans.
Is West Virginia Northern Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of West Virginia Northern Community College report median earnings of $30,162, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does West Virginia Northern Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
West Virginia Northern Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.17%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 17.9% 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 6.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $57,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is West Virginia Northern Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at West Virginia Northern Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.17, 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 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to West Virginia Northern Community College.
- Bladen Community CollegeDublin, NC · Close peer28% grad $30,591 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- New River Community and Technical CollegeBeaver, WV · Close peer33% grad $29,073 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · same state
- Kirtland Community CollegeGrayling, MI · Close peer30% grad $35,831 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Mountwest Community and Technical CollegeHuntington, WV · Close peer18% grad $28,951 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · same state
- Montcalm Community CollegeSidney, MI · Close peer29% grad $35,499 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Southeastern Community CollegeWhiteville, NC · Close peer47% grad $30,284 earnWhy: similar earnings
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is West Virginia Northern Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at West Virginia Northern Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.17, 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 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note