Best colleges for education in West Virginia
Shepherd University ranks first in West Virginia for education value (#132 nationally, value score 62.8): graduates earn $48,992 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $7,940 a year.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition · Source: College Scorecard field of study, reporting year 2025 · 7 West Virginia colleges ranked · Updated November 4, 2026
Best education colleges in West Virginia
Shepherd University ranks first in West Virginia for education value (#132 nationally, value score 62.8): graduates earn $48,992 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $7,940 a year. 7 West Virginia colleges qualify. At the median one, education graduates earn $44,539 and the average net price is $9,484 a year.
Source: U.S. College Scorecard field of study, 2025
What the data shows
Key findings
- 7 West Virginia colleges qualify. At the median one, education graduates earn $44,539 and the average net price is $9,484 a year.
- The highest education earnings in the state are at West Virginia University ($51,537), ranked #2 in the state once cost, debt and graduation rate count.
- The lowest average net price among them is at Marshall University: $7,341 a year.
- Median earnings
- $44,539
- National: $48,822
- Median net price
- $9,484
- National: $17,201
- Median federal debt
- $20,625
- education graduates
- Public colleges
- 7 of 7
- in this list
7 colleges
The West Virginia ranking
Ordered by the national value score; the national rank is shown with each college. Earnings are medians 4 years after the bachelor's degree.
- Earnings
- $48,992
- Net price
- $7,940
- Federal debt
- $19,515
- Graduation rate
- 50%
- Earnings
- $51,537
- Net price
- $18,020
- Federal debt
- $24,900
- Graduation rate
- 66%
- Earnings
- $46,625
- Net price
- $10,060
- Federal debt
- $20,625
- Graduation rate
- 55%
- Earnings
- $44,168
- Net price
- $9,484
- Federal debt
- $17,762
- Graduation rate
- 41%
- Earnings
- $43,659
- Net price
- $7,341
- Federal debt
- $21,500
- Graduation rate
- 53%
- Rank in West Virginia 6
West Virginia State University
Institute, WV · Public · #351 nationally
41.1Value- Earnings
- $43,924
- Net price
- $13,624
- Federal debt
- $17,252
- Graduation rate
- 36%
- Earnings
- $44,539
- Net price
- $8,988
- Federal debt
- $26,176
- Graduation rate
- 52%
Method: the same value score as the national education ranking (earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate, each a national percentile). Data: College Scorecard, reporting year 2025; 2026–27 edition, verified Nov 2026.
Questions about education colleges in West Virginia
What are the best colleges for education in West Virginia?
By CollegesRef value score, the top 3 West Virginia colleges for education are Shepherd University (value score 62.8), West Virginia University (value score 56.3) and Fairmont State University (value score 54.5). The score weighs graduate earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate.
Which West Virginia college has the highest earnings for education graduates?
West Virginia University: its education graduates have median earnings of $51,537 4 years after the bachelor's degree.
What is the most affordable education college in West Virginia on this list?
Marshall University has the lowest average net price of the ranked West Virginia colleges, $7,341 a year after grants. A family's own price depends on income and aid.
How many West Virginia colleges are ranked for education?
7 West Virginia colleges have a education bachelor's program with enough graduates and reported earnings, plus a published net price and graduation rate. Ranks shown are national; the state rank is their order within West Virginia.