Major Community Colleges in West Virginia
West Virginia Northern Community College: West Virginia Northern Community College (WVNCC) is a two-year public college based in Wheeling, West Virginia. It offers more than 50 degree and certificate programs in fields ranging from business to healthcare to engineering technology. WVNCC also has several online learning options for students who prefer flexible learning schedules. The college is known for its commitment to providing quality education at an affordable cost and has been consistently ranked among the top community colleges in the US by US News & World Report. WVNCC also offers a variety of student services such as career counseling, tutoring, and library services.
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College: Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College (SWVCTC) is based in Mount Gay, West Virginia and provides educational opportunities for the residents of southern West Virginia. It offers over 60 associate degrees and certificate programs in areas such as business, healthcare, criminal justice, engineering technology, hospitality management, and more. The college also provides several online learning options that allow students to pursue their studies from home or any other convenient location. SWVCTC has been recognized as one of the top community colleges in the nation by US News & World Report for its excellent academic programs and student services like career counseling and job placement assistance.
BridgeValley Community & Technical College: BridgeValley Community & Technical College (BVCTC) is based in South Charleston, West Virginia and provides educational opportunities for residents of central West Virginia. It offers more than 60 associate degrees and certificate programs ranging from accounting to nursing to industrial automation technology. BVCTC also has several online learning options that allow students to pursue their studies from home or any other convenient location. BVCTC has been recognized for its commitment to providing quality education at an affordable cost as well as its excellent student services which include career counseling, tutoring, job placement assistance, library services and more.
Top 3 Counties in West Virginia
Kanawha County: Kanawha County is located in the south-central part of West Virginia and is the most populous county in the state. It has an estimated population of 191,000 people and covers an area of 1,079 square miles. The county is home to numerous cities and towns including Charleston, South Charleston, St. Albans, Dunbar, Nitro and Clendenin.
According to COUNTRYAAH, Kanawha County is a major hub for business and industry in West Virginia with several large corporations such as Dow Chemical Company, Bayer Crop Science and Appalachian Power Company located there. The county also has several higher educational institutions such as West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech), BridgeValley Community & Technical College (BVCTC) and University of Charleston (UC). In addition to these educational institutions, Kanawha County also has several parks, museums and historic sites that attract visitors from all over the state.
Monongalia County: Monongalia County is located in north-central West Virginia and has a population of over 96,000 people. It covers an area of 667 square miles which makes it one of the largest counties in the state. The county seat is Morgantown which is home to West Virginia University (WVU). WVU contributes significantly to Monongalia County’s economy by providing jobs for many residents as well as bringing in revenue from tuition payments.
Monongalia County also has several other higher educational institutions including Pierpont Community & Technical College (PCTC), Fairmont State University (FSU) and Potomac State College (PSC). In addition to its educational institutions, Monongalia County also boasts many recreational activities such as hiking trails at Coopers Rock State Forest and skiing at Snowshoe Mountain Resort.
Berkeley County: Berkeley County is located in eastern West Virginia with a population estimated at 120,000 people spread across an area of 603 square miles. It is home to several cities including Martinsburg which serves as the county seat. Berkeley County’s economy relies heavily on its agricultural industry with apples being one of its main products. In addition to agriculture, Berkeley also has several higher education institutions such as Shepherd University (SU), Blue Ridge Community & Technical College (BRCTC) and Eastern WV Community & Technical College (EWVCTC).
Berkeley County also offers many recreational activities for visitors including hiking trails at Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area or skiing at Whitetail Resort Ski Area. The county also has several museums such as Adam Stephen House Museum or Belle Boyd House Museum that provide insight into local history.
Top 3 Universities in West Virginia
West Virginia University (WVU) is the flagship university of West Virginia and is located in Morgantown. Founded in 1867, WVU currently serves over 30,000 students from all 50 states and over 100 countries. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degrees through its 15 academic colleges. WVU is particularly well-known for its strong programs in business, engineering, education, nursing and medicine. It also has a vibrant campus life with more than 400 student clubs and organizations.
Marshall University (MU) is located in Huntington and was established in 1837 as Marshall Academy. Today, it serves more than 14,500 students from all 50 states and over 70 countries. MU offers more than 90 undergraduate majors as well as a number of graduate programs including law, medical sciences, pharmacy and business administration. Marshall also has an active student life with over 200 student organizations on campus.
West Virginia State University (WVSU) is located in Institute just outside of Charleston. Founded in 1891 as a small agricultural college for African-American students, it now serves nearly 5,000 students from all backgrounds with over 60 undergraduate majors as well as several graduate programs such as public health or social work. WVSU also has an active student life with numerous extracurricular activities such as intramural sports or Greek life organizations available to its students.
