Skip to content
CollegeRanker
West Virginia Wesleyan College logo
Private nonprofit Buckhannon, WV · Town · Southeast · 100% data
B Earnings C+ Value C Affordability
Graduation Rate
53% C-
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$51,593 B
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$18,083 C
Close to the national average
Acceptance Rate
93% D
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +27% vs avg
Graduation -7% vs avg
Net Price 6% vs avg
Mobility Top 94%

Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 18.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.1 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Computer Science Colleges in West Virginia.

18.1× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $18.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,233,793.

What The Data Says

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

  2. Earnings 27% above the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $18.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why West Virginia Wesleyan College Matters

West Virginia Wesleyan College is a private college in Buckhannon, WV and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

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

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private College
Carnegie Class
Baccalaureate College
Enrollment
954
Setting
Town
Designations
71
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Physical Sciences

Why students choose West Virginia Wesleyan College

Strong STEM core
A heavy concentration in technical fields
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C-
Top 57% overall
B
Earnings
$51,593 median
C+
Value
2.9× net price
C
Affordability
$18,083/yr net
C-
Graduation
53% graduate
F
Social Mobility
0.6% climb Q1→Q5
D
Selectivity
93% admit rate
C-
Diversity
0.53 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of just 954 students, West Virginia Wesleyan College is a tight-knit community where personalized attention is the norm. This school is particularly appealing to those studying Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice, Physical Sciences, and Education. The high acceptance rate of 93% means that many students can find a home here, especially those who thrive in a supportive environment where they can develop both personally and academically.

Looking at life after graduation, alumni earn a median salary of $51,593 after ten years in the workforce. That number reflects the value of a degree from West Virginia Wesleyan, especially considering the affordability factor. With 38% of students receiving Pell Grants, the college is accessible to many, creating opportunities for those who might otherwise struggle to afford higher education.

When it comes to finances, the net price after aid sits at $18,083, which is quite manageable for many families. However, students should be aware of the median debt of $27,000 they might carry upon graduation. Those who tend to thrive here are often motivated individuals seeking a balance of academic rigor and community support, ready to embrace the opportunities that come with a Wesleyan education.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective West Virginia Wesleyan College 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 West Virginia Wesleyan College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

West Virginia Wesleyan College, located in Buckhannon, West Virginia, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 93%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,052. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.

Acceptance Rate
93%
Retention Rate
67%
SAT Average
1052
ACT Midpoint
21
SAT Range
892–1160
ACT Range
16–23
Full-Time Faculty
62%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,450
Student–Faculty Ratio
11:1
Diversity Index
0.53
First-Gen Students
30%
Applicants
1,481
Admitted
1,427

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 Wesleyan College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at West Virginia Wesleyan College is $34,090, 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 $18,083. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,611 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$34,090
Out-of-State
$34,090
Avg Net Price
$18,083
Median Debt
$27,000
Pell Grant Rate
38%
Federal Loan Rate
65%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$12,611
Family Income $30K–$48K
$14,807
Family Income $48K–$75K
$14,848
Family Income $110K+
$24,004

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 Wesleyan College — 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 West Virginia Wesleyan College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of West Virginia Wesleyan College earn a median of $51,593, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$42,672
8 Years
$46,774
10 Years
$51,593
Debt-to-Earnings
0.52x
Earning > $25K
59%

Earnings Trajectory

$42,672 6yr $46,774 8yr $51,593 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (194)
47%
100% (194)
47%
100% (194)
47%
100% (194)
47%

How West Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation53%Earnings 10yr$52KNet Price$18KRetention67%Median Debt$27KPell Grant Rate38%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$13K$0-30K$15K$30-48K$15K$48-75K$24K$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%6.7%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%8.9%MOBILITY0.59%

College ROI Calculator

Is West Virginia Wesleyan College Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, West Virginia Wesleyan College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $18,083/year ($72,332 total). Graduates earn $51,593 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,306,125 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,233,793 (18.1× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 53% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$72,332
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,306,125
Net Return
$1,233,793
ROI Multiple
18.1×
Cost Per Year
$18,083
Median Debt
$27,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
53%

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 Wesleyan College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

West Virginia Wesleyan 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 0.59%, a more modest figure. About 6.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $86,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
0.59%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
8.9%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
6.7%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$117,251
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is West Virginia Wesleyan 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 Wesleyan College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.58, 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 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.58
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.03
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
9.8%
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
$363,638
Investment Income
$-13,934,638

Top Programs

The fields West Virginia Wesleyan 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.

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 West Virginia Wesleyan College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

West Virginia Wesleyan College, located in Buckhannon, West Virginia, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 93%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,052. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend West Virginia Wesleyan College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at West Virginia Wesleyan College is $34,090, 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 $18,083. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,611 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.

Is West Virginia Wesleyan College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of West Virginia Wesleyan College earn a median of $51,593, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does West Virginia Wesleyan College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

West Virginia Wesleyan 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 0.59%, a more modest figure. About 6.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $86,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is West Virginia Wesleyan 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 Wesleyan College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.58, 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 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to West Virginia Wesleyan College.

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