Colleges Near Charleston, West Virginia
Looking for information about the best colleges and universities serving Charleston? Here's your guide to the top schools offering degrees to students in the area, including institutions located within 50 miles of Charleston, West Virginia.
There are at least 8 colleges serving the area, including 3 private colleges and universities, 1 public college or university, and 3 community colleges offering 2-year degrees.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of the colleges serving Charleston, with details about cost, enrollment, student type and degree offerings. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Charleston, West Virginia Colleges by the Numbers
Associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near Charleston, West Virginia have been growing over the past 5 years. In 2022, students completed 2,228 doctorates at colleges and universities near Charleston. That was an increase of 18% from completions reported in 2018.
Schools with Degree Completions
Est. Total Completions in 2022
Est. Completions (Last 5 Years)
Sponsored
Top School For Adults & Online Students
Franklin University is a top choice for transfer students, online learners and adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,444
Completions By Degree
1,820
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Private Colleges & Universities Offering Degrees Near Charleston, West Virginia
There are at least 3 schools offering degrees near Charleston, West Virginia, and 3 are four-year private colleges or universities where about 6,832 undergraduate students were enrolled. In 2022, a total of 2,911 degrees were completed at private colleges and universities, including 2,561 that were offered online.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Franklin offers more than 50 online bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral programs in the Charleston, West Virginia area. Franklin University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are adults and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Franklin University. In 2022, 1,011 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 94 associate degrees, 676 master's degrees, and 39 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,444
Completions By Degree
1,820
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Strayer University-West Virginia is an institutionally accredited for profit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are adults and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Strayer University-West Virginia. In 2022, 17 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 4 associate degrees, 5 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
270
Completions By Degree
26
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
University of Charleston is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and most programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at University of Charleston. In 2022, 589 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 153 associate degrees, 241 master's degrees, and 82 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
2,118
Completions By Degree
1,065
Est. Online Degree Availability
67%
Completions by Program Area
Public Colleges & Universities Near Charleston, West Virginia
There is 1 four-year public college located near Charleston, West Virginia. About 1,373 students were enrolled in undergraduate programs, and about 400 degrees were completed at public colleges near Charleston. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
West Virginia State University is an institutionally accredited public 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and some programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at West Virginia State University. In 2022, 334 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 66 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,373
Completions By Degree
400
Est. Online Degree Availability
51%
Completions by Program Area
Community Colleges Near Charleston, West Virginia
There are 3 community colleges near Charleston, West Virginia where students can earn 2-year associate degrees. In 2022, about 2,912 students were enrolled in undergraduate courses at community colleges near Charleston, and about 658 associate degrees were completed.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,215
Completions By Degree
306
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
BridgeValley Community & Technical College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and minimal programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,542
Completions By Degree
339
Est. Online Degree Availability
24%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Carver Career Center is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
155
Completions By Degree
13
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Affordable Colleges Near Charleston, West Virginia
Wondering what you can expect to pay for a degree near Charleston, West Virginia? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average tuition at Charleston-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $15,539. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit schools near Charleston is $13,515, while tuition at 2-year online colleges and universities is N/A.
4-Year Nonprofit
4-Year For-Profit
2-Year
Accredited Colleges Serving Charleston, West Virginia
Earning a college degree is an investment — and earning a degree from an institutionally accredited university is one of the best ways to ensure your education is of high quality. Institutionally accredited universities are held to rigorous standards by state and regional bodies and undergo regular reviews to verify that their processes and academic programs meet the proper standards.
Wondering if a certain college or university offering degree programs in Charleston, West Virginia is institutionally accredited? View a list of institutionally accredited colleges and universities serving Charleston, West Virginia here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
- Franklin University
- University of Charleston
- Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College
- BridgeValley Community & Technical College
- Carver Career Center
- Strayer University-West Virginia
Charleston, West Virginia Job Market & Opportunities
What happens after you earn your college degree in Charleston? What's the Charleston, West Virginia job market outlook? Get a snapshot of jobs and careers, including annual job openings, median earnings and more.
In 2022, there were about 165,784 jobs in the Charleston, West Virginia area. From 2021-2022, job growth in Charleston was below the national average, at 2%. There were 19,606 job openings in the area. In terms of earnings, workers in Charleston do worse than the national average, with an average hourly pay of $17.98.