Match #1
Bluefield State College-West Virginia
Bluefield, WV
Profile closeness87/100
Admit rate97%
- 1,042 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
- Graduation rate 34%, close to 36%
- Enrollment 1,042 students, close to 1,321
The colleges most similar to West Virginia State University are Bluefield State College-West Virginia, Kentucky State University, and Lincoln University-Pennsylvania. West Virginia State University admits 96% of applicants and has an average net price of $13,624 a year; 6 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 4 admit a larger share of applicants, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with West Virginia State University. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to West Virginia State University
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
Kentucky State University
Frankfort, KY
Profile closeness86/100
Admit rate96%
- 1,309 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
- Graduation rate 30%, close to 36%
- Enrollment 1,309 students, close to 1,321
Match #3
Lincoln University-Pennsylvania
Lincoln University, PA
Profile closeness80/100
Admit rate66%
- 1,539 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Enrollment 1,539 students, close to 1,321
- Average net price $13,517, close to $13,624
Match #4
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Princess Anne, MD
Profile closeness78/100
Admit rate96%
- 2,391 students
- Public
- Town: Fringe
- Graduation rate 35%, close to 36%
- Acceptance rate 96%, close to 96%
Match #5
Virginia State University
Petersburg, VA
Profile closeness77/100
Admit rate89%
- 5,074 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 37%, close to 36%
- Average net price $14,893, close to $13,624
Match #6
Norfolk State University
Norfolk, VA
Profile closeness76/100
Admit rate88%
- 5,392 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Graduation rate 35%, close to 36%
- Average net price $12,180, close to $13,624
Match #7
Central State University
Wilberforce, OH
Profile closeness74/100
Admit rate99%
- 2,620 students
- Public
- Rural: Fringe
- Average net price $13,307, close to $13,624
- Acceptance rate 99%, close to 96%
Match #8
Coppin State University
Baltimore, MD
Profile closeness69/100
Admit rate46%
- 1,844 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Enrollment 1,844 students, close to 1,321
- Average net price $12,632, close to $13,624
Match #9
Bowie State University
Bowie, MD
Profile closeness67/100
Admit rate72%
- 5,043 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 37%, close to 36%
- Same control type (public)
Match #10
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania
Cheyney, PA
Profile closeness64/100
Admit rate—
- 617 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Average net price $12,255, close to $13,624
- Same control type (public)
Questions about West Virginia State University alternatives
What colleges are similar to West Virginia State University?
The closest matches to West Virginia State University are Bluefield State College-West Virginia, Kentucky State University, Lincoln University-Pennsylvania, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and Virginia State University. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Is West Virginia State University hard to get into?
West Virginia State University admitted 96% of its 2,959 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is not very selective: it admits most applicants. 4 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.
Which West Virginia State University alternatives cost less?
6 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than West Virginia State University ($13,624 a year), including Bluefield State College-West Virginia ($11,130), Norfolk State University ($12,180), and Cheyney University of Pennsylvania ($12,255). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
