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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best General Studies Schools in West Virginia

19 Colleges in the United States
2,950 General Studies Degrees Awarded
$33,114 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools to find the best for general studies students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for General Studies in West Virginia

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general studies degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in General Studies

1

No school ranked higher than American Public University System this year for general studies. This very large private for-profit university is located in the town of Charles Town. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. American Public University System awarded about 1,515 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $55,029. Typical student debt for the program is $6,195. More information about a degree in general studies from American Public University System

2

West Virginia University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 119 general studies degrees were awarded at West Virginia University in the most recent year. General Studies graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $24,874 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500. Get the full general studies details for West Virginia University

3
Shepherd University crest
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, WV

Students looking for a strong general studies program will find one at Shepherd University, which ranked #3. Set in the rural area of Shepherdstown, Shepherd University is a mid-sized public institution. Shepherd University graduates 51% of students within six years. About 58 general studies degrees were awarded at Shepherd University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Shepherd University generally make around $33,587. Students borrow a median of $29,500 to complete this degree. See the full general studies program report for Shepherd University

4

Concord University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Athens, Concord University is a mid-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. About 69 general studies degrees were awarded at Concord University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $32,499 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,326 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general studies from Concord University

5

Bridgevalley Community And Technical College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of South Charleston, Bridgevalley Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Bridgevalley Community And Technical College awarded about 30 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $23,902 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,750 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general studies from Bridgevalley Community And Technical College

6

West Virginia University At Parkersburg landed the #6 spot for general studies this year. Located in the rural area of Parkersburg, West Virginia University At Parkersburg is a mid-sized public university. About 119 general studies degrees were awarded at West Virginia University At Parkersburg in the most recent year. Students who receive their general studies degree from West Virginia University At Parkersburg earn around $33,159 in the first couple years of their career. West Virginia University At Parkersburg graduates carry a median of $15,084 in student loans. Get the full general studies details for West Virginia University At Parkersburg

7
Marshall University crest
Marshall University
Huntington, WV

Marshall University landed the #7 spot for general studies this year. Located in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a large public university. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 148 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Marshall University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $32,282 in their early career. Marshall University graduates carry a median of $29,248 in student loans. Read more about the general studies program at Marshall University

8

Bluefield State College placed #8 among the best general studies schools. Set in the town of Bluefield, Bluefield State College is a small public institution. Bluefield State College graduates 30% of students within six years. About 24 general studies degrees were awarded at Bluefield State College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Bluefield State College earn around $25,677 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,655 to complete this degree. See the full general studies program report for Bluefield State College

9

Pierpont Community And Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best general studies schools. Set in the town of Fairmont, Pierpont Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. About 436 general studies degrees were awarded at Pierpont Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $43,759 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,366 to complete this degree. Read more about the general studies program at Pierpont Community And Technical College

10

Fairmont State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best general studies schools. Located in the town of Fairmont, Fairmont State University is a mid-sized public university. About 44% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 38 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Fairmont State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $33,815 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $30,939 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general studies from Fairmont State University

11

West Virginia State University landed the #11 spot for general studies this year. Set in the suburb of Institute, West Virginia State University is a mid-sized public institution. About 39% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 general studies students who graduated with this degree at West Virginia State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general studies degree from West Virginia State University earn around $41,319 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,125. See the full general studies program report for West Virginia State University

12

Blue Ridge Community And Technical College earned the #12 position for general studies this year. Set in the rural area of Martinsburg, Blue Ridge Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 97 general studies degrees were awarded at Blue Ridge Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Blue Ridge Community And Technical College earn around $32,872 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500. More information about a degree in general studies from Blue Ridge Community And Technical College

13

Potomac State College Of West Virginia University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best general studies schools. Located in the town of Keyser, Potomac State College Of West Virginia University is a small public university. Potomac State College Of West Virginia University awarded about 18 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Potomac State College Of West Virginia University earn around $24,874 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,500. Read more about the general studies program at Potomac State College Of West Virginia University

14

Glenville State College landed the #14 spot for general studies this year. Set in the rural area of Glenville, Glenville State College is a mid-sized public institution. Glenville State College graduates 35% of students within six years. Glenville State College awarded about 30 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. General Studies graduates of Glenville State College earn a median of $25,428 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,647 to complete this degree. Get the full general studies details for Glenville State College

15

Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College earned the #15 position for general studies this year. Located in the town of Logan, Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College is a small public university. There were roughly 163 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Read more about the general studies program at Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College

16

New River Community And Technical College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best general studies schools. This small public university is located in the rural area of Beaver. There were roughly 24 general studies students who graduated with this degree at New River Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $44,588 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $8,187 to complete this degree. Read more about the general studies program at New River Community And Technical College

17

West Virginia Northern Community College earned the #17 position for general studies this year. Set in the city of Wheeling, West Virginia Northern Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 25 general studies students who graduated with this degree at West Virginia Northern Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $22,166 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,369. See the full general studies program report for West Virginia Northern Community College

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 22 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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