West Liberty University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in West Liberty, West Virginia. It enrolls 1,511 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
61/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes40
Value55
Affordability60
Selectivity11
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 97.3%, West Liberty University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
97.3%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
890 – 1123
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether West Liberty University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
1.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending West Liberty University 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 $15,366 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,366
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
32%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
44%
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 (in-state)
$8,893
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$17,442
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,728
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,728
Books & Supplies
$1,230
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,984
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,702
Total Cost of Attendance
$23,809
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
$12,714
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,460
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,087
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,362
Over $110,000
$18,566
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.
$3,32910%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$23,250Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$34,15190%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 $17,522
↓ $5,728
No Pell $14,706
↓ $8,544
Dependent students $15,817
↓ $7,433
Independent students $16,966
↓ $6,284
Female students $15,816
↓ $7,434
Male students $16,750
↓ $6,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($23,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
29% of full-time students who enrolled at West Liberty University graduate within six years, and 69% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
29%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
69%
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 West Liberty University earn a median of $43,296 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$43,296
Earning > $25K
73%
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
$34,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$45,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$34,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$38,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$45,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,300, about 25% 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 ↑
16.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 76% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
West Liberty University is home to 1,511 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 36% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,511
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
36%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 81.5%1,231
Other 7.5%113
Black 5.3%80
International 3.0%45
Asian 0.5%8
Hispanic 0.2%3
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at West Liberty University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeWest Liberty, West Virginia
Housing
Strongly residential1,291 beds for 1,511 students
Adult Learners
6%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
West Liberty University offers
a varied set of programs:
31 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 West Liberty University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,350
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$20M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$61,926
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
142 instructional faculty across 5 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
45
32%
$71,728
Associate Professors
32
23%
$65,594
Assistant Professors
41
29%
$56,322
Instructors
23
16%
$48,431
Lecturers
1
1%
$52,752
Pros & Cons of West Liberty University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how West Liberty University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, West Liberty University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about West Liberty University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about West Liberty University.
Is West Liberty University hard to get into?
West Liberty University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 97.3%.
What is the acceptance rate at West Liberty University?
West Liberty University has an acceptance rate of 97.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for West Liberty University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at West Liberty University scored between 890 and 1123 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for West Liberty University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at West Liberty University scored between 18 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does West Liberty University cost?
The average net price after aid at West Liberty University is $15,366 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is West Liberty University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $43,296 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,366 per year. That's roughly 2.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is West Liberty University known for?
West Liberty University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Business Administration, Biology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do West Liberty University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering West Liberty University are $43,296, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is West Liberty University accredited?
Yes. West Liberty University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend West Liberty University?
West Liberty University enrolls 1,511 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at West Liberty University?
West Liberty University graduates 29% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is West Liberty University a public or private college?
West Liberty University is a Public institution.
Where is West Liberty University located?
West Liberty University is located in West Liberty, West Virginia.
What programs does West Liberty University offer?
West Liberty University offers 31 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Business Administration, Biology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at West Liberty University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at West Liberty University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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