Student Outcomes
- Graduation Rate (4-year)
- 61.7%
- Graduation Rate (6-year)
- 61.2%
- Retention Rate
- 81.5%
- Median Earnings (10 years after entry)
- $55,939
- Median Debt at Graduation
- $22,500
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Loan Repayment Rate
- 58.3%
- Estimated Monthly Loan Payment
- $239/mo
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dentistry. | Doctoral | $125,015 | $189,776 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | Doctoral | $118,155 | $74,824 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $94,763 | $45,144 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Master | $88,195 | $76,875 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | Master | $81,997 | $41,000 |
| Human Resources Management and Services. | Master | $81,333 | $37,697 |
| Psychology, General. | Doctoral | $72,796 | |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Doctoral | $69,757 | $88,808 |
| Industrial Engineering. | Bachelor | $68,047 | $25,048 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor | $67,995 | $22,221 |
| Mining and Mineral Engineering. | Bachelor | $67,288 | $24,903 |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor | $66,069 | $23,026 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor | $65,457 | $26,000 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. | Bachelor | $65,238 | $27,242 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Master | $63,302 | $25,500 |
Outcomes Overview
WVU graduates earn a median of $55,939 ten years after graduation, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 40% with typical student loans of $22,500. Monthly loan payments of $239 consume about 5% of gross income, which sits below the recommended 10% threshold. The university's strong engineering and business programs funnel graduates into West Virginia's energy sector and growing tech industries. An employment rate of 95.6% reflects solid job placement, though the 61% six-year graduation rate means many students take longer to complete degrees. Alumni like NBA executive Jerry West demonstrate the network's reach beyond Appalachia. Despite moderate earnings compared to coastal universities, WVU delivers an average return on investment with manageable debt loads.