
Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2023
Questions & Answers
What do all these numbers mean?
All costs shown here are the average net cost paid by families in each income bracket for one year at the college in question. Net cost is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus government grants and institutional scholarships. Figures are based on data from the 2020-21 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2023.
What is “Total Cost” on the chart?
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for one year at that particular college. It includes:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
There are detailed chart below for each school that shows these expenses. Click here to go to the individual cost breakdown for schools.
How can I use this information?
This information is useful for building a realistic college budget. It's a good place to start until you better understand your specific circumstances. For example, let's say your income is $100,000 per year. This chart shows that the average state school would run $15,554 and the average private school would be $22,129. You can also get information on specific West Virginia schools in the chart above or the tables below.
Will my family pay the amount on this chart?
Probably not. The numbers are averages. You may be below average or above average. However, there are two key points we can learn from this data:
- Families with higher incomes ($75,000-$110,000 and $110,000+) will most likely pay close to full price at the public schools.
- Private colleges have a higher list price but offer more discounts. This brings their net price much closer to the cost of state-funded schools.
Where did this information come from?
As part of federal financial aid, colleges are required to provide detailed cost information to the U.S. government. This data is made available to the public through the National Center for Education Statistics. For more details, click here.
What about athletes, merit aid or minority students?
Athletes, high achieving students, and those with minority status are averaged in with everyone else. Within each income bracket, there are families that pay more than average and families that pay less than average.
The costs on this chart seem large. How can families afford to pay it?
For many families paying for college is not easy, but in the end they figure out. Most families will pay their net cost of college with some combination of:
- College savings and investments
- Payments from current income
- Loans
- Outside scholarships (check out the Scholarship Guide For Busy Parents to learn how your student can win scholarships)
- Tax planning
- Student work

Net Price:
Net prices is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus the average amount in government grants and institutional scholarships the school awards. This is an average, so you may pay above the average or below the average. Your exact net price is likely to be different and sometimes drastically different.
Most families will pay the net price with some combination of savings and investments, current income and various loans. Some students will also receive scholarships from sources other than the federal or state government or the college. Any scholarships and grants from these outside sources are not included in the data. However, government grants and institutional scholarships are included in the averages.
Total Cost at West Virginia University (2020-21) | |
---|---|
Tuition and Fees | $8,976 |
Room and Board | $10,948 |
Books | $950 |
Other Expenses | $3,250 |
Total | $24,124 |
Total Cost:
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2020-21 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2023. Total costs include:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
College Total Cost | ||
---|---|---|
Family Income | WV Public $22,585 | WV Private $44,885 |
$0 - $30k | $8,945 | $17,920 |
$30,001 – $48k | $9,924 | $17,497 |
$48,001 – $75k | $12,687 | $19,830 |
$75,001 – $110k | $15,554 | $22,129 |
$110,001+ | $16,402 | $22,249 |
Public vs. Private Averages
This table shows the average total cost of attendance for the West Virginia public and private colleges we have included in our analysis. The costs include a breakdown of the average net price paid by family income. Notice that the average private college is $6,000-$9,000 more than the average public school, depending on your income bracket. It is important to stress that these are averages. Most families will not be average, and their individual circumstances could be drastically different. I encourage all families to work with their preferred colleges to get information specific to their family.
Below are similar charts for each individual private and public college in West Virginia. Click a school to view its complete chart.
Public WV Schools Cost Breakdown
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Bluefield State College
Bluefield Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $7,680 $8,784 Room and Board $10,800 $9,400 Books $2,200 $1,500 Other Expenses $4,000 $3,287 Total $24,680 $22,971 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $9,019 $8,394 $30,001 - $48k $8,801 $8,192 $48,001 - $75k $11,313 $10,530 $75,001 - $110k $15,329 $14,268 $110,001+ $16,806 $15,642 -
Concord University
Athens Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,385 $8,690 Room and Board $9,304 $9,444 Books $1,100 $1,100 Other Expenses $2,944 $2,944 Total $21,733 $22,178 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $6,959 $7,101 $30,001 - $48k $8,602 $8,778 $48,001 - $75k $10,761 $10,981 $75,001 - $110k $12,856 $13,119 $110,001+ $13,005 $13,271 -
Fairmont State University
Fairmont Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $7,738 $7,892 Room and Board $9,730 $10,022 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,000 $2,000 Total $20,468 $20,914 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,697 $8,887 $30,001 - $48k $9,494 $9,701 $48,001 - $75k $12,329 $12,598 $75,001 - $110k $15,789 $16,133 $110,001+ $16,106 $16,457 -
Glenville State College
Glenville Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $7,886 $8,886 Room and Board $10,382 $10,382 Books $1,000 $100 Other Expenses $4,898 $4,898 Total $24,166 $24,266 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,398 $12,449 $30,001 - $48k $12,893 $12,946 $48,001 - $75k $15,620 $15,685 $75,001 - $110k $20,484 $20,569 $110,001+ $22,187 $22,279 -
Marshall University
Huntington Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,512 $8,552 Room and Board $10,644 $11,384 Books $1,100 $1,100 Other Expenses $2,287 $2,287 Total $22,543 $23,323 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $5,986 $6,193 $30,001 - $48k $6,275 $6,492 $48,001 - $75k $9,058 $9,371 $75,001 - $110k $12,963 $13,412 $110,001+ $13,876 $14,356 -
West Virginia University at Parkersburg
Parkersburg Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $3,890 $3,890 Room and Board $0 $0 Books $1,500 $1,500 Other Expenses $0 $0 Total $5,390 $5,390 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,168 $8,168 $30,001 - $48k $8,687 $8,687 $48,001 - $75k $8,841 $8,841 $75,001 - $110k $8,920 $8,920 $110,001+ $0 $0
-
Potomac State College of West Virginia University
Keyser Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $4,536 $4,608 Room and Board $8,748 $9,006 Books $950 $950 Other Expenses $2,750 $2,750 Total $16,984 $17,314 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $6,197 $6,317 $30,001 - $48k $5,919 $6,034 $48,001 - $75k $9,989 $10,183 $75,001 - $110k $11,481 $11,704 $110,001+ $12,147 $12,383 -
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $7,784 $7,784 Room and Board $10,750 $10,848 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,875 $2,875 Total $22,409 $22,507 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $7,457 $7,490 $30,001 - $48k $8,271 $8,307 $48,001 - $75k $11,705 $11,756 $75,001 - $110k $13,824 $13,884 $110,001+ $15,246 $15,313 -
West Virginia State University
Institute Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,437 $8,437 Room and Board $12,886 $12,886 Books $1,701 $1,701 Other Expenses $2,066 $2,066 Total $25,090 $25,090 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,376 $13,376 $30,001 - $48k $14,670 $14,670 $48,001 - $75k $17,935 $17,935 $75,001 - $110k $19,488 $19,488 $110,001+ $19,488 $19,488 -
West Liberty University
West Liberty Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,150 $8,345 Room and Board $9,806 $10,020 Books $1,645 $1,645 Other Expenses $4,064 $4,094 Total $23,665 $24,104 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,051 $12,275 $30,001 - $48k $14,828 $15,103 $48,001 - $75k $15,694 $15,985 $75,001 - $110k $17,203 $17,522 $110,001+ $18,540 $18,884 -
West Virginia University Institute of Technology
Montgomery Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $7,560 $7,728 Room and Board $11,314 $11,438 Books $950 $950 Other Expenses $2,750 $2,760 Total $22,574 $22,876 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $7,071 $7,166 $30,001 - $48k $9,125 $9,247 $48,001 - $75k $11,446 $11,599 $75,001 - $110k $15,110 $15,312 $110,001+ $15,514 $15,722 -
West Virginia University
Morgantown Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,976 $8,976 Room and Board $10,948 $10,948 Books $950 $950 Other Expenses $3,250 $3,250 Total $24,124 $24,124 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $9,179 $9,179 $30,001 - $48k $10,282 $10,282 $48,001 - $75k $13,706 $13,706 $75,001 - $110k $16,566 $16,566 $110,001+ $17,511 $17,511
Private WV Schools Cost Breakdown
-
Alderson Broaddus University
Philippi Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $29,220 $30,020 Room and Board $9,400 $9,860 Books $1,500 $1,500 Other Expenses $3,051 $3,059 Total $43,171 $44,439 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,818 $20,400 $30,001 - $48k $18,057 $18,587 $48,001 - $75k $20,068 $20,657 $75,001 - $110k $25,398 $26,144 $110,001+ $23,906 $24,608 -
Bethany College
Bethany Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $30,840 $31,600 Room and Board $11,120 $11,490 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,600 $2,600 Total $45,760 $46,890 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $7,793 $7,985 $30,001 - $48k $10,794 $11,061 $48,001 - $75k $11,705 $11,994 $75,001 - $110k $14,055 $14,402 $110,001+ $10,825 $11,092 -
University of Charleston
Charleston Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $32,200 $31,350 Room and Board $10,500 $9,950 Books $1,800 $1,800 Other Expenses $2,600 $2,600 Total $47,100 $45,700 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,632 $19,048 $30,001 - $48k $17,140 $16,631 $48,001 - $75k $20,720 $20,104 $75,001 - $110k $21,989 $21,335 $110,001+ $21,658 $21,014
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Davis & Elkins College
Elkins Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $29,960 $29,960 Room and Board $9,008 $9,800 Books $1,356 $1,380 Other Expenses $3,062 $3,118 Total $43,386 $44,258 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,470 $17,821 $30,001 - $48k $15,668 $15,983 $48,001 - $75k $19,486 $19,878 $75,001 - $110k $19,894 $20,294 $110,001+ $19,019 $19,401 -
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Buckhannon Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $32,252 $32,612 Room and Board $9,576 $10,054 Books $1,500 $1,500 Other Expenses $3,565 $3,565 Total $46,893 $47,731 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,404 $15,679 $30,001 - $48k $15,426 $15,702 $48,001 - $75k $19,034 $19,374 $75,001 - $110k $22,418 $22,819 $110,001+ $25,592 $26,049 -
Wheeling Jesuit University
Wheeling Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $29,290 $29,290 Room and Board $10,610 $11,620 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $1,800 $1,800 Total $43,000 $44,010 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $27,405 $28,049 $30,001 - $48k $27,897 $28,552 $48,001 - $75k $27,969 $28,626 $75,001 - $110k $29,022 $29,704 $110,001+ $32,491 $33,254
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