Wheeling University
#9 Best Business Colleges in West Virginia- Graduation Rate
- 27% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $57,949 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $20,503 C-
- 20% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 63% B
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 17.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $17.6 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Best Business Colleges in West Virginia.
Every $1 spent returns $17.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,360,782.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 42% above the national college median.
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Graduation of 27% — 53% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $17.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Wheeling University Matters
Wheeling University is a private university in Wheeling, 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 University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 589
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, Education
Why students choose Wheeling University
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
Competitive — admits about 63% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $20,503 a year after grants and scholarships — 20% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $57,949 ten years after enrolling — 42% above the typical college, against $25,125 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.62 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 589 students, Wheeling University offers a close-knit environment that is ideal for those who thrive in smaller academic settings. It’s a good fit for individuals passionate about fields like Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Psychology, and Biology & Biomedical. The acceptance rate of 63% means there's a decent chance for applicants to find a place here, especially if they value personal attention and community engagement.
Looking at life after graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $57,949 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure suggests that many graduates find stable careers in their chosen fields, although the graduation rate of 27% indicates that persistence is key. Understanding these outcomes is essential for anyone considering their long-term financial future, especially given the challenges some students face in completing their degrees.
When it comes to costs, the net price after aid sits at $20,503, which is manageable for many families but still represents a significant investment. With a median debt of $25,125, graduates need to be mindful of their student loans as they transition into the workforce. Those who tend to thrive here often come with a strong sense of purpose and a commitment to their studies, making the most of what Wheeling University has to offer.
Rankings
- #9 Best Business Colleges in West Virginia
- #10 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in West Virginia
- #11 Best Biology Colleges in West Virginia
- #12 Best Education Colleges in West Virginia
- #13 Best Nursing Colleges in West Virginia
- #13 Best Psychology Colleges in West Virginia
- #14 Best Bachelor's Programs in West Virginia
- #14 Best Master's Programs in West Virginia
Can I Get In?
How selective Wheeling University 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 Wheeling University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Wheeling, West Virginia, Wheeling University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 63% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 20. The graduation rate is roughly 27%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 63%
- Retention Rate
- 54%
- ACT Midpoint
- 20
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,906
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 9:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.67
- First-Gen Students
- 37%
- Applicants
- 1,576
- Admitted
- 1,145
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 Wheeling University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wheeling University is $29,875, 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 $20,503. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,739 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,125 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $29,875
- Out-of-State
- $29,875
- Avg Net Price
- $20,503
- Median Debt
- $25,125
- Pell Grant Rate
- 32%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 61%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $17,739
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $19,718
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $19,913
- Family Income $110K+
- $22,824
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 Wheeling University — 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 Wheeling University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wheeling University earn a median of $57,949, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $48,482
- 8 Years
- $54,144
- 10 Years
- $57,949
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.43x
- Earning > $25K
- 70%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Wheeling 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 Wheeling University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Wheeling University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $20,503/year ($82,012 total). Graduates earn $57,949 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,442,794 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,360,782 (17.6× your investment). The median debt is $25,125, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 27% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $82,012
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,442,794
- Net Return
- $1,360,782
- ROI Multiple
- 17.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $20,503
- Median Debt
- $25,125
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 27%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,921,500
- Investment Income
- $2,254,400
Top Programs
The fields Wheeling 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.
- Business & Marketing 32% $44,638 early-career
- Health Professions 30% $71,290 early-career
- Psychology 6% $26,097 early-career
- Education 6% $31,312 early-career
- Criminal Justice 5%
- Biology & Biomedical 4%
- Engineering 3%
- Humanities 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 Wheeling University'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
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Wheeling University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Wheeling, West Virginia, Wheeling University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 63% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 20. The graduation rate is roughly 27%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Wheeling University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wheeling University is $29,875, 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 $20,503. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,739 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,125 in federal student loans.
Is Wheeling University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wheeling University earn a median of $57,949, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Wheeling 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 Wheeling University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.62, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Wheeling University.
- Tabor CollegeHillsboro, KS · Close peer33% grad $54,058 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- LaGrange CollegeLagrange, GA · Close peer44% grad $51,745 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar size · similar net price
- Oklahoma Wesleyan UniversityBartlesville, OK · Close peer32% grad $59,841 earn 66% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Cleary UniversityHowell, MI · Close peer41% grad $54,186 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Bluefield UniversityBluefield, VA · Close peer22% grad $48,896 earn 59% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Saint Elizabeth UniversityMorristown, NJ · Close peer46% grad $53,038 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Wheeling 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 Wheeling University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.62, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note