West Virginia University at Parkersburg
#2 Most Affordable Colleges in West Virginia- Graduation Rate
- 20% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $35,171 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $1,807 A+
- 89% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,868
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 112.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $112.4 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Most Affordable Colleges in West Virginia.
Every $1 spent returns $112.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $805,101.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 20% — 65% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $112.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why West Virginia University at Parkersburg Matters
West Virginia University at Parkersburg is a public community college in Parkersburg, 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
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 1,868
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education
Why students choose West Virginia University at Parkersburg
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 $1,807 a year after grants and scholarships — 89% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $35,171 ten years after enrolling — 14% below the typical college, against $12,570 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.27 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of around 1,868 students, West Virginia University at Parkersburg offers a supportive environment for those looking to pursue degrees in fields like Humanities, Business and Marketing, Health Professions, Education, and Criminal Justice. This school is particularly suited for individuals seeking a smaller, community-focused setting where they can engage closely with faculty and peers. The emphasis on practical education in these disciplines helps students prepare for various career paths.
After graduation, students can expect an average salary of $35,171 after ten years in the workforce. While the graduation rate is relatively low at 20%, the financial aspect is manageable, with a net price of just $1,807 after aid, making it accessible for many. This affordability can ease the transition into post-college life, enabling graduates to focus on their careers rather than being overwhelmed by debt.
On that note, the median debt stands at $12,570, which is quite reasonable compared to what some other institutions might impose. Students who tend to thrive here are often those who value a close-knit community and are driven to succeed in their chosen fields. With a significant portion of students receiving Pell Grants, the school caters well to individuals from varying economic backgrounds, making it a viable option for those seeking an education without excessive financial strain.
Rankings
- #2 Most Affordable Colleges in West Virginia
- #14 Best Computer Science Colleges in West Virginia
- #14 Best Education Colleges in West Virginia
- #14 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in West Virginia
- #14 Best Data Science Colleges in West Virginia
- #17 Best Master's Programs in West Virginia
- #21 Best Online Colleges in West Virginia
- #21 Best Nursing Colleges in West Virginia
Can I Get In?
How selective West Virginia University at Parkersburg 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 University at Parkersburg? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Parkersburg, West Virginia, West Virginia University at Parkersburg enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 20%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 32%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,342
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.14
- First-Gen Students
- 45%
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 University at Parkersburg? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at West Virginia University at Parkersburg is $9,124, 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 $1,807. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $723 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,570 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,612
- Out-of-State
- $9,124
- Avg Net Price
- $1,807
- Median Debt
- $12,570
- Pell Grant Rate
- 33%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 18%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $723
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $50
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $1,589
- Family Income $110K+
- $7,562
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 University at Parkersburg — 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 University at Parkersburg Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of West Virginia University at Parkersburg report median earnings of $35,171, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $31,076
- 8 Years
- $32,355
- 10 Years
- $35,171
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.36x
- Earning > $25K
- 43%
Earnings Trajectory
How West Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is West Virginia University at Parkersburg Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, West Virginia University at Parkersburg delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $1,807/year ($7,228 total). Graduates earn $35,171 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $812,329 in total earnings — a net gain of $805,101 (112.4× your investment). The median debt is $12,570, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 20% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $7,228
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $812,329
- Net Return
- $805,101
- ROI Multiple
- 112.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $1,807
- Median Debt
- $12,570
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 20%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $101,619
- Investment Income
- $39,849
Top Programs
The fields West Virginia University at Parkersburg 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.
- Humanities 26%
- Business & Marketing 18% $30,854 early-career
- Health Professions 12% $65,244 early-career
- Education 6% $38,598 early-career
- Criminal Justice 6% $22,845 early-career
- Precision Production 6% $31,312 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 5% $27,315 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3%
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 University at Parkersburg'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 University at Parkersburg? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Parkersburg, West Virginia, West Virginia University at Parkersburg enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 20%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend West Virginia University at Parkersburg? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at West Virginia University at Parkersburg is $9,124, 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 $1,807. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $723 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,570 in federal student loans.
Is West Virginia University at Parkersburg Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of West Virginia University at Parkersburg report median earnings of $35,171, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is West Virginia University at Parkersburg? 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 University at Parkersburg. Its economic connectedness score is 1.27, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
- University of Hawaii Maui CollegeKahului, HI · Close peer28% grad $34,453 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Langston UniversityLangston, OK · Close peer17% grad $33,261 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Murray State CollegeTishomingo, OK · Close peer27% grad $36,545 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- South Georgia State CollegeDouglas, GA · Close peer18% grad $35,697 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Arkansas at Pine BluffPine Bluff, AR · Strong match40% grad $35,550 earn 41% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- East Georgia State CollegeSwainsboro, GA · Strong match15% grad $37,174 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is West Virginia University at Parkersburg? 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 University at Parkersburg. Its economic connectedness score is 1.27, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note