University of Charleston is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Charleston, West Virginia. It enrolls 2,259 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
60/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes29
Value43
Affordability44
Selectivity73
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 61.5%, University of Charleston is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
61.5%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of Charleston is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
14.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of Charleston isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $22,107 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$22,107
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
31%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
35%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$33,800
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,280
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,400
Books & Supplies
$2,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,870
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,170
Total Cost of Attendance
$46,470
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$21,427
$30,001 – $48,000
$25,331
$48,001 – $75,000
$16,945
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,215
Over $110,000
$23,795
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,25010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$19,500Medianpercentile
$23,00075%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $13,437
↓ $6,063
No Pell $12,000
↓ $7,500
Dependent students $14,000
↓ $5,500
Independent students $10,500
↓ $9,000
Female students $12,666
↓ $6,834
Male students $12,500
↓ $7,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($19,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
37% of full-time students who enrolled at University of Charleston graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
37%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of Charleston earn a median of $55,774 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$55,774
Earning > $25K
80%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$43,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$50,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$43,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$51,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,300, about 14% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 79% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of Charleston is home to 2,259 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 43% are first-generation college students, 46% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
2,259
Part-Time
46%
First-Generation
43%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 66.0%1,490
Black 9.4%213
Hispanic 8.7%197
International 7.8%176
Other 4.9%111
Asian 1.1%24
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of Charleston. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityCharleston, West Virginia
Housing
Partly residential756 beds available
Adult Learners
53%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of Charleston offers
a varied set of programs:
33 distinct programs across
15 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Charleston is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$138M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$62,559
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
118 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
11
9%
$77,822
Associate Professors
33
28%
$66,133
Assistant Professors
61
52%
$60,514
Instructors
13
11%
$50,166
Pros & Cons of University of Charleston
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of Charleston tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Above-average net price
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, University of Charleston is a fit for
working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of Charleston
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of Charleston.
Is University of Charleston hard to get into?
Admissions at University of Charleston are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 61.5%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Charleston?
University of Charleston has an acceptance rate of 61.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does University of Charleston cost?
The average net price after aid at University of Charleston is $22,107 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of Charleston worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $55,774 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $22,107 per year. That's roughly 2.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of Charleston known for?
University of Charleston is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Nursing, Business & Management, Other. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of Charleston graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of Charleston are $55,774, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of Charleston accredited?
Yes. University of Charleston is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend University of Charleston?
University of Charleston enrolls 2,259 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of Charleston?
University of Charleston graduates 37% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of Charleston a public or private college?
University of Charleston is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is University of Charleston located?
University of Charleston is located in Charleston, West Virginia.
What programs does University of Charleston offer?
University of Charleston offers 33 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Nursing, Business & Management, Other.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of Charleston?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Charleston is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in West Virginia
Other colleges in West Virginia share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
American Colleges by the Numbers
One federal dataset, 3,839 colleges. The median school costs $16,371 a year, admits 78% of applicants, and enrolls 1,259 students. The shape of US higher ed.
Higher education data
Net price
College enrollment
Acceptance rate
College ownership
Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
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For-profit colleges post the highest median net price of any sector and the lowest graduate earnings. They cost more than private nonprofits and pay less than publics.
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Net price
Earnings
College ROI
College ownership
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