A Guide to Online Colleges in West Virginia

Nicknamed "The Mountain State" for the Appalachian Mountains, and its industrious Mountaineers, West Virginia is classified as a Southern state. Though to outsiders looking in, this state is better described through its folk culture. Folk culture is the expression of a particular people group and encompasses everything about its people including their traditions, tales, jokes, and current customs. West Virginia is one of the richest remaining cultures in the U.S. that still preserves folk traditions of days past, particularly where bluegrass, otherwise known as mountain music or "old-time" music, is concerned. Mountain Music Trail is an internationally recognized trail that makes its way along Eastern West Virginia from Monroe to Tucker through the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest. Today the Smithsonian and other institutes strive to capture and preserve what is an old, ongoing American tradition. The livelihoods of its people preserve and conserve the unique atmosphere of this incredible mountain range and the best way to experience it is to join right in. But West Virginia is more than bluegrass and coal mines. It was an important throughway point for the Baltimore Ohio Railroad and an older entryway into Western development. It's largest cities remain historic and intact and continue to celebrate the industries of the past as well as pave the way for growth and continual production. Towns like Morgantown, home of West Virginia University, Huntington, and the state's capital, Charleston, lead West Virginians into the future while cherishing their culturally rich past. If the best way to experience West Virginia is by partaking then grab a pair of drum sticks, a washboard or a fiddle and take the plunge into all of the unique experiences West Virginia has to offer.

In-state tuition is often applied to public schools offering online programs. Many online programs require some face-to-face time, or more numerous support services at their brick and mortar locations. Intensive study experiences, often on the weekends or in several week-long bouts, enable many online students to accelerate their time until graduation. Students looking at online education can drastically expand their educational options if they also look to hybrid degrees (degrees that can be taken partially, or mostly online). Finally, one of the most common stipulations in scholarships is that students be from a certain state or region, often more funds are available to students seeking degrees in-state.

Top Public Schools

Many of the top public schools in West Virginia offer online programs of study ranging from an associate to a doctoral degree. West Virginia University offers 17 online programs in a broad range of fields from the bachelor's to doctorate including a bachelor's in nursing, a master's in coaching education, and a doctorate of nursing practice. Marshall University offers 13 degrees online including a bachelor’s in geography, and an M.A. in Secondary Education among others. There are several associate degree options also available completely online in liberal arts, business, and technical/career fields. Some of the best include Mountwest Community and Technical College as well as West Virginia Junior College.

Top Private Schools

The two private schools that offer online programs are Wheeling Jesuit University and Bethany College. Wheeling Jesuit offers four master's degrees in leadership and nursing and Bethany College offers three bachelor's degrees in criminal justice, interdisciplinary leadership, and business management.

How to Become a Resident

West Virginia requires a full "gap year." Meaning, To qualify as a resident the state of West Virginia requires a “one year rule” or 12 continuous months of physical presence in West Virginia that does not include studying. West Virginia is certainly one of the more difficult places to achieve in-state status. Though there may be some variation depending on the university or individual circumstance, a likely candidate must demonstrate the following criteria. They must have intentions of being a permanent resident of West Virginia and have no ties to other states regarding voter status, domicile etc. They must be able to spend a full "gap year" not attending school during which they are gainfully employed in West Virginia for at least 30 hours per week and remain in the state of West Virginia with limited periods of absence, and be financially independent.

In 2015-16 the average published tuition prices for West Virginia four-year universities was $5,169 for in-state tuition that’s about $3,800 below the national average for public schools. Some of the highest value schools are also our top picks for online options. West Virginia University is one of the top schools in the region and the tuition rates are just over $7,900 for in-state tuition. Out-of-Staters will pay three times the price at $22,488. Marshall University's annual tuition is $6,814 and another highly ranked regional university. Again, those out of state pay over $15,000 for tuition. Additionally, those studying online, saving $30,000 in room and board costs. There’s something to be said for staying in-state.

Capital city Charleston is the largest city in West Virginia and is located between the Elk and Kanawha Rivers. Known in the past for its natural resources like salt, natural gas, and coal, today Charleston remains an important economic and cultural contributer to Appalachia. Walk along the Kanawha river, take a picnic lunch Davis Park to hear free live music, and finish your night in the East End — a funky urban eclectic neighborhood known for dining and night life. When it's time for an escape "Charlie West" is just 7 miles outside of Kanawha State Forest. The Kanawha State Forest is over 9,000 acres of forest known for wildflowers and birdwatching as well as provides ample opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and cross country skiing. This beloved forest is a favorite recreational spot for all people in West Virginia.

Huntington is a busy port town located on the Ohio River at the Mouth of the Guyandotte River and is the largest city in Tri-State area of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio. Due to is river and rail transport Huntington remains an important and diverse economy today. Also home to Marshall University, Huntington has a rich academic culture as well. This walkable city offers an excellent restaurant and music scene as well as several museums that pay homage to this city's traditions — like the Heritage Farm Museum and Village, the Museum of Radio and Technology, the Touma Medical Museum and the Huntington Museum of Art. In addition to including 19th and 20th century American and European paintings, this museum is also offers a reflection of local culture with its inclusion of Appalachian folk art and flint firearms. For the outdoor enthusiast there are trails for biking all across the city, scenic train rides, and the popular Pullman Square with its summer concert series. Local music features Irish music and bluegrass every Saturday night at the Mountaineer Opry House that hosts local and national bluegrass musicians.

Originally known as Newport, Parkersburg is where the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad made its crossing on the particularly important Parkersburg Bridge CSX. Parkersburg originally carved its niche in the oil and gas industry. Manufacturing and construction remain among the city's top industries. Today Parkersburg is home to the Oil and Gas Museum that details the oil and gas industry in West Virginia and its effects on local wealth and culture. For locals seeking recreational activities, Blennerhassett Island is a popular destination with an $8 Sternwheeler ride and $2 museum entry fee that includes 3 floors of archaeological and historic exhibits. Or, simply take a picnic, go biking, or walk the nature trails. The Ohio river is a natural destination for locals who love boating, kayaking and jet skiing. Homes are historic in Parkersburg which containsvthe largest historic district in West Virginia. In addition to quaint residences, the streets are filled with high quality restaurants and places to shop. With a low cost of living, low crime rate and a great education system it's no wonder its residents are proud to call Parkersburg home.

Morgantown is situated along the banks of the Monongahela River, and according to Forbes is considered to be one of the best small cities in America for its constant population growth, job growth and big city amenities while maintaining a small town feel. It's also home to West Virginia University (WVU) one of the best public schools in the nation according to U.S. News. There are hundreds of things to do for all walks of life in this small town with a big city feel. The Arboretum located at WVU with its 45 flower species and 70 bird species along with 91 beautiful acres of forest and 3.5 miles of trails for hiking beg exploration. Some notable museums include the Morgantown Glass Museum which displays objects that were made in former factories in Morgantown. The Riverfront Museum includes a glassworking studio, while Scott's Run Museum is dedicated to emphasizing the importance of coal and the coal boom to the area. For more outdoor adventures there are historical guided tours taken by way of kayak via Adventures on Magic River, or trek along the converted B&O railroad on the Caperton, Decker's Creek, and the Mon River Trail.

The Best Online Colleges in West Virginia

Monitoring the accreditation of a university you are interested in attending is incredibly important. Accreditation ensures your credits can transfer, that you can receive Federal financial aid, and most importantly, that certain standards of educational quality are maintained during your schooling. The highest accreditation standard for most programs in the United States is provided by regional accreditation agencies. The regional accrediting agency for West Virginia is the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional accrediting agencies responsible for accrediting schools in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Making sure that a University you're hoping to attend is regionally accredited — or accredited by a real and respected accrediting agency — is one of the most important choices you can make in ensuring the quality of your education.

Three Steps for Securing Financial Aid

Through the previous three steps most students find themselves offered some sort of federal grant, work study, private grant, scholarship, or stipend.

Great West Virginia Higher Education Resources