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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in West Virginia

20 Colleges in the United States
3,916 Liberal Arts General Studies Degrees Awarded
$33,429 Avg Early-Career Salary

Liberal Arts General Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their liberal arts general studies programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 26 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for liberal arts general studies students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Liberal Arts General Studies in West Virginia

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall liberal arts general studies education in West Virginia.

Top Schools in Liberal Arts General Studies

1

No school ranked higher than American Public University System this year for liberal arts 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. About 1,536 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at American Public University System in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from American Public University System earn around $55,029 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,195 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from American Public University System

2

West Virginia University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 141 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at West Virginia University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $24,874 early in their careers. West Virginia University graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from West Virginia University

3
Shepherd University crest
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, WV

A rank of #3 makes Shepherd University one of the top schools for liberal arts general studies. 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 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Shepherd University in the most recent year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of Shepherd University earn a median of $33,587 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $29,500. Get the full liberal arts general studies details for Shepherd University

4

Students looking for a strong liberal arts general studies program will find one at Concord University, which ranked #4. Concord University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Athens. Concord University graduates 39% of students within six years. There were roughly 69 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Concord University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Concord University earn around $32,499 in the first couple years of their career. Concord University graduates carry a median of $24,326 in student loans. Read more about the liberal arts general studies program at Concord University

5

Bridgevalley Community And Technical College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in liberal arts general studies, ranking #5. 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 34 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Bridgevalley Community And Technical College generally make around $23,902. Typical student debt for the program is $6,750. See the full liberal arts general studies program report for Bridgevalley Community And Technical College

6

Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College came in at #6 for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the rural area of Moorefield, Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College is a small public institution. About 30 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College earn around $28,134 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,500. Get the full liberal arts general studies details for Eastern West Virginia Community And Technical College

7

West Virginia University At Parkersburg landed the #7 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the rural area of Parkersburg, West Virginia University At Parkersburg is a mid-sized public institution. West Virginia University At Parkersburg awarded about 222 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of West Virginia University At Parkersburg earn a median of $33,159 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,084. Get the full liberal arts general studies details for West Virginia University At Parkersburg

8
Marshall University crest
Marshall University
Huntington, WV

Marshall University placed #8 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Marshall University is a large public school located in the city of Huntington. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 159 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Marshall University in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $32,282 in their early career. Marshall University graduates carry a median of $29,248 in student loans. More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from Marshall University

9

Bluefield State College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. This small public university is located in the town of Bluefield. About 30% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Bluefield State College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts 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. Read more about the liberal arts general studies program at Bluefield State College

10

Pierpont Community And Technical College placed #10 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Pierpont Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fairmont. Pierpont Community And Technical College awarded about 436 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Pierpont Community And Technical College generally make around $43,759. Typical student debt for the program is $18,366. See the full liberal arts general studies program report for Pierpont Community And Technical College

11

Fairmont State University came in at #11 for liberal arts general studies this year. Set in the town of Fairmont, Fairmont State University is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. About 38 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Fairmont State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Fairmont State University earn around $33,815 in the first couple years of their career. Fairmont State University graduates carry a median of $30,939 in student loans. Read more about the liberal arts general studies program at Fairmont State University

12

West Virginia State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. West Virginia State University is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Institute. West Virginia State University graduates 39% of students within six years. West Virginia State University awarded about 37 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of West Virginia State University earn a median of $41,319 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $31,125. See the full liberal arts general studies program report for West Virginia State University

13

Blue Ridge Community And Technical College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the rural area of Martinsburg, Blue Ridge Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Blue Ridge Community And Technical College awarded about 292 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $32,872 in their early career. Blue Ridge Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in liberal arts general studies from Blue Ridge Community And Technical College

14

Potomac State College Of West Virginia University placed #14 among the best liberal arts general studies schools. Potomac State College Of West Virginia University is a small public school located in the town of Keyser. About 163 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at Potomac State College Of West Virginia University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, liberal arts general studies degree recipients from Potomac State College Of West Virginia University generally make around $24,874. Potomac State College Of West Virginia University graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. See the full liberal arts general studies program report for Potomac State College Of West Virginia University

15

Glenville State College came in at #15 for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the rural area of Glenville, Glenville State College is a mid-sized public university. Glenville State College graduates 35% of students within six years. There were roughly 221 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Glenville State College in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts 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 liberal arts general studies details for Glenville State College

16

Mountwest Community And Technical College landed the #16 spot for liberal arts general studies this year. Mountwest Community And Technical College is a small public school located in the suburb of Huntington. There were roughly 25 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Mountwest Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their liberal arts general studies degree from Mountwest Community And Technical College earn around $43,753 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,500 to complete this degree. See the full liberal arts general studies program report for Mountwest Community And Technical College

17

Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Set in the town of Logan, Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College is a small public institution. There were roughly 342 liberal arts general studies students who graduated with this degree at Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College in the most recent data year. See the full liberal arts general studies program report for Southern West Virginia Community And Technical College

18

New River Community And Technical College earned the #18 position for liberal arts general studies this year. Located in the rural area of Beaver, New River Community And Technical College is a small public university. About 39 liberal arts general studies degrees were awarded at New River Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the liberal arts general studies program make about $44,588 in their early career. New River Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $8,187 in student loans. Get the full liberal arts general studies details for New River Community And Technical College

19

West Virginia Northern Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best liberal arts general studies schools. Located in the city of Wheeling, West Virginia Northern Community College is a mid-sized public university. West Virginia Northern Community College awarded about 47 liberal arts general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Liberal Arts General Studies graduates of West Virginia Northern Community College earn a median of $22,166 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,369. Get the full liberal arts general studies details 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 · 26 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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