West Virginia Northern Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Wheeling, West Virginia. It enrolls 1,014 students (a small, tight-knit 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 (2-Year). 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
64/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes23
Value73
Affordability67
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, West Virginia Northern Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending West Virginia Northern Community College 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 $5,329 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$5,329
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
37%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
9%
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)
$4,706
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$12,698
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,744
Books & Supplies
$1,658
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,770
Total Cost of Attendance
$13,512
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
$3,911
$30,001 – $48,000
$3,946
$48,001 – $75,000
$6,627
$75,001 – $110,000
$9,201
Over $110,000
$12,332
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.
$1,48310%percentile
$2,50025%percentile
$10,245Medianpercentile
$10,32175%percentile
$17,75090%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 $5,935
↓ $4,310
No Pell $6,500
↓ $3,745
Dependent students $5,000
↓ $5,245
Independent students $8,572
↓ $1,673
Female students $6,464
↓ $3,781
Male students $5,438
↓ $4,807
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,000, less than completers ($10,245), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
29% of full-time students who enrolled at West Virginia Northern Community College graduate within six years, and 57% 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
57%
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 Virginia Northern Community College earn a median of $30,162 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$30,162
Earning > $25K
50%
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
$26,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$38,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$27,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$34,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$37,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,000, about 31% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$5.7 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
West Virginia Northern Community College is home to 1,014 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 49% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,014
Part-Time
38%
First-Generation
49%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 86.7%879
Black 5.4%55
Other 3.6%36
Hispanic 2.0%20
Asian 1.2%12
International 0.8%8
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at West Virginia Northern Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityWheeling, West Virginia
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
22%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
West Virginia Northern Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
24 distinct programs across
11 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 Virginia Northern Community College is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,815
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$2.3M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$53,533
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
54 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
7
13%
$66,634
Associate Professors
6
11%
$59,989
Assistant Professors
16
30%
$58,343
Instructors
25
46%
$45,579
Pros & Cons of West Virginia Northern Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how West Virginia Northern Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for:
Based on the data, West Virginia Northern Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about West Virginia Northern Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about West Virginia Northern Community College.
Is West Virginia Northern Community College hard to get into?
West Virginia Northern Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at West Virginia Northern Community College?
West Virginia Northern Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does West Virginia Northern Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at West Virginia Northern Community College is $5,329 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is West Virginia Northern Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $30,162 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $5,329 per year. That's roughly 5.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is West Virginia Northern Community College known for?
West Virginia Northern Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Health Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do West Virginia Northern Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering West Virginia Northern Community College are $30,162, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is West Virginia Northern Community College accredited?
Yes. West Virginia Northern Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend West Virginia Northern Community College?
West Virginia Northern Community College enrolls 1,014 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at West Virginia Northern Community College?
West Virginia Northern Community College graduates 29% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is West Virginia Northern Community College a public or private college?
West Virginia Northern Community College is a Public institution.
Where is West Virginia Northern Community College located?
West Virginia Northern Community College is located in Wheeling, West Virginia.
What programs does West Virginia Northern Community College offer?
West Virginia Northern Community College offers 24 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Health Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at West Virginia Northern Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at West Virginia Northern Community College is 11:1, 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.
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
Liberal Arts
Medical Assisting
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