Founded in 1867, West Virginia University. is a Public college. Located in West Virginia, which is a city setting in West Virginia, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 22,350 full time undergraduate students, and 6,138 full time graduate students.
The West Virginia University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 19:1. There are 1186 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at West Virginia University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
76%
Application Deadline
Application Fee
45
SAT Range
915-1130
ACT Range
21-26
Admissions at WVU are considered Less Selective, with ,208% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 24 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
78% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 45% were in the top quarter, and 20% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at West Virginia University.
3%
“We”re apathetic”
27%
“We know about current events and vote”
62%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
8%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
5%
“We save it for the classroom”
24%
“Sometimes, but not often”
56%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
15%
“All the time, including weekends”
1%
“I”m always terrified”
8%
“I only go out in groups”
48%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
44%
“I feel extremely safe”
1%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
3%
“We bought the gear”
96%
“We live for the big game”
6%
“It”s not really our thing”
17%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
63%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
13%
“We”re a very artistic group”
3%
“Haven”t met them”
4%
“Available in class”
65%
“They keep regular office hours”
28%
“They”re always available”
5%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
17%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
76%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
2%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
2%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
7%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
22%
“We only party on weekends”
69%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
5%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
44%
“There might be people who do”
41%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
9%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
3%
“We”re apathetic”
27%
“We know about current events and vote”
62%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
8%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
5%
“We save it for the classroom”
24%
“Sometimes, but not often”
56%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
15%
“All the time, including weekends”
1%
“I”m always terrified”
8%
“I only go out in groups”
48%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
44%
“I feel extremely safe”
1%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
3%
“We bought the gear”
96%
“We live for the big game”
6%
“It”s not really our thing”
17%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
63%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
13%
“We”re a very artistic group”
3%
“Haven”t met them”
4%
“Available in class”
65%
“They keep regular office hours”
28%
“They”re always available”
5%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
17%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
76%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
2%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
347 Students rated on-campus housing 3.7 stars. 18 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
250 Students rated off-campus housing 3.8 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
362 Students rated campus food 3.6 stars. 20 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
374 Students rated campus facilities 4.3 stars. 50 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
374 Students rated class size 3.9 stars. 26 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
372 Students rated school activities 4.4 stars. 56 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
375 Students rated local services 4.3 stars. 54 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
375 Students rated academics 4.2 stars. 45 % gave the school a 5.0.
West Virginia University REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of West Virginia University?
156 Students rated West Virginia University
Jacklyn - 06/19/2024
West Virginia University provides strong academics for students while the size of the university and student population truly allows for the Mountaineer culture to shine. Outside of class there are countless facilities including libraries, study rooms, and outdoor locations to find academic enrichment. Beyond the academics, we have many opportunities all from D-1 athletics to almost any club imaginable.
Cristian - 04/19/2024
I think it's great it obviously has flaws but nothing to bad.
Adelaide - 03/17/2024
I like the musicology/world music department and the anthropology department. Other than that, not a big fan. Students are generally not passionate about what they're studying, aren't interested in studying outside of class, and uninterested in academics as a whole. Terrible school if you are academically inclined, but great if all you care about is football or sporting events. I would not recommend, especially with the cuts currently happening and the financial state of the university.
Kim - 07/12/2023
West Virginia University is a safe school. In West Virginia, you are very likely to run into the university whether they just own the property, or it is a part of the campus. WVU also provides lots of activities to participate in like job fairs, social groups, and many other gathered activities.
Crystal - 01/30/2023
I graduated from WVU in 2008. I truly enjoyed my time there. Academically, the University is top tier. My professors were easily accessible and always available during their office hours. The student body is is very involved in current events. As a sports lover, I enjoyed both men's and women's basketball as well as football. Everyone was always very friendly. I cherish the time that I spent gaining my education at WVU
Ryan - 01/18/2023
I thought that the campus was beautiful. I loved seeing the students all across campus and seeing how they do in groups. The college I saw was very interesting and my major is something I want to proceed with for the rest of my life. WVU has always been my dream school and when I saw the campus, I knew that this school was truly when I wanted to go.
Allison - 12/29/2022
It is definitely a party school with drugs and alcohol being widely available. However, if that's not your thing, there are plenty of opportunities to find friends and groups who don't drink or party, and lots of clubs and events all the time. The professors in my program care about their students' success and love reaching out to help. Since the school is so big, with over 30,000 students, many resources are available like a student food pantry, LGBTQ+ Center, radio station, and more.
Sarah - 07/04/2022
I found the school to focus more on partying than actual academics. There would be students going out to party every night. Professors also do not allow themselves to be open to the student. You often have to go to the class' TA even for office hours.
Mackenzie - 01/20/2022
Could be better
Drake - 11/16/2021
A great school with so much going on. There is something for everyone at WVU. Whether it's joining a club, attending a sporting event, participating in an intramural sports team or exercising at the Rec Center, there are many opportunities for everyone at WVU. The WVU campus may be spread out, but the PRT and bus lines offer a very easy way to get to anywhere you need to be. The student atmosphere is great at WVU and the professors are helpful and friendly. I attended WVU Discover Day and learned so much valuable information from the speakers that will help me make my way at WVU.
Brianna - 12/29/2020
When they say country roads take me home, they mean it. Right from the beginning I felt at home here and I can easily say this has been one of the best decisions of my life. I love my classes and the opportunities I have had with the Research Apprenticeship Program, study abroad trips and various organizations. My classes have prepared me for health professional school and admissions tests, such as the DAT. I have one more year left during undergrad and can honestly say that the days have passed by way too fast.
lakin - 12/20/2020
I really like WVU. They make you feel at home and you meet so many new people for many different places. They have a very diverse culture. They take care of their students and staff. The best part is making friends from different places. They take academics very seriously and have many tutors to help you.
Jessica - 10/31/2020
After visiting the campus, I have found the perfect college for me. With all of the welcoming students throughout the campus, I see smiling faces greeting me with countless opportunities for anything. Between the excitement to learn and get involved throughout the community WVU is an amazing place that would be a perfect fit for anyone who wants to pursue an educational career.
Sadie - 05/19/2020
There is always something happening, whether it is purely fun, an athletic event, or purely academic in nature. Students are always meeting new people and are introduced to a variety of different activities and research opportunities. There is never a dull moment at WVU!
Gabriel - 05/17/2020
Good major options, culturally dynamic with a really difficult campus set up. Getting around is not easy because it’s so spread out. The extracurricular options are plenty. The dorms are great but mostly unused. Plenty of party action, but everybody can find something that suits them.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for West Virginia University is 76%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
While it is hard to tell which college is right before you actually attend it, make sure when you arrive you give it a chance. Like anything else college takes some adjusting, and it is important that you have an open mind during your first couple of months. College is very nerve racking, but once the initial adjustment is made it will be the best time in your life. It is all about doing things in moderation and keeping organized, and if you can do these things you can pretty much do whatever you like in life.
For the most part my classmates are always eager to learn by studying hard individually and in groups and attending class and actively engaging with every professors.
I'm the fourth generation of my family to attend West Virginia Univesity. Growing up there was alway pride in attending this school. Attending this school has taught me that I am not the only one with pride, everyone here takes pride. I love going to all the different sporting events and seeing thousands of students cheering on the Moutaineers. West Virginia is a small state, so WVU is the pride of the state. Every student knows this and everyone does their part to make this the best university around. The best part about WVU is the pride.
What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?
I was completely satisfied with this school and what i knew about it before coming, upon arrival I learned more about how great the people here really are from the professors to the ra's and other students. There is nothing I would have wanted to know before coming here, nothing was a surprise or weird so that I had to adjust.
What's the most frustrating thing about your school?
I believe that the most frustrating think about West Virginia University is having to ride the prt to get to the downtown campus. I think that a renovation of the prt would be a great asset for the university. In the cold weather expecially, the prt has been known to break down and cause students to miss class.
What kind of person should not attend this school?
If your looking for a school to recieve a great education, watch division one basketball and football games and enjoy yourself you should go to West Virginia Univerisity.Morgantown isn't a gorgeous city but it has a great college town feel. It's a very large school but honestly it doesen't seem that way, you could be walking down High Street and see many friendly faces. You don't have to join Greek Life to have a good time, but it's a blast if you do.
I couldn't imagine going anywhere else. The atmosphere is great. The students are friendly. Some of the class sizes are a little big. My general chemistry classes had about 200 students in them, but that isn't the case for all courses. Also, I've found that most of the professors I've had are very helpful and are generally available outside class to help you with anything you don't understand.
The academic requirements here are fair. The amount of studying you need to do depends on the GPA goal that you have. Teachers will get to know your name (in large classes) if you participate and ask questions. I'm in the Honors College and all the classes I take through it are pretty small. My teachers in those classes have always gotten to know my name. I suggest the Honors College to anyone interested. It provides a broad range of interesting courses not available to other students. As a pre-pharmacy major, I have also taken many science courses at the university and have always felt as though my teachers were there to help me with anything I needed help with.
Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?
ALL stereotypes have to be based on something, so, if one looks hard enough, one can find these people. However, the vast majority of people are not, to a degree.
What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?
When a lot of people hear that I go to WVU, they go, "Oh yeah, the party school." But I am always quick to inform them that this is not always the case. Sure if that's what you're into you can go out and find all the parties, but it's the same way at every college. There are a lot of other groups of students here too. You have greek life, which consists of social, professional, and academic fraternities and sororities (meaning its not always just your typical frat guy or sorority girl who just wants to party). WVU is also very competitive in sports, not only in the big east, but at a club level too, so we have lots of students athletes that are attending here as well.
Football and basketball are huge. Everyone loves the Mountaineers here. However, most other sports tend to not be well supported, at least in my opinion for a school this size.
Dorms consist of almost all freshman as you are required to live in dorms your first year. "Towers" is the largest dorm as it consists of three different towers consisting of thousands of students. This dorm is located on the Evansdale campus so it is likely that most students will either have to take the bus or PRT to classes. However, this is where the majority of freshman live. Other dorms are located on the downtown campus which is closer to most classes. There are only two all female dorms as the rest are co-ed.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
91% of students attending West Virginia University receive some sort of financial aid.
27% were awarded federal grants.55%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.
