Admin v2 Preview — Sections marked with a yellow border use mock data until v2 scraping is complete.
v2 Admin
PublicRural

West Liberty University

West Liberty, West Virginia 26074

Visit website

Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateRuralPublic

Known for health sciences — excellent value

West Liberty University is a public institution in West Liberty with particular strength in health sciences and business. With an average SAT of 1041, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A small campus of 1.6K undergraduates with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio. The rural location provides a peaceful, focused academic environment.

61% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $43,296 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $16,295.

Established
1837
Mascot
Topper the Bear
Type
Public university
Division
Division II

Campus Visits

44 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Tour
36 more tours beyond 5 daysGet access →

Plan Your Visit

72%Acceptance
1041SAT Avg
1,578Students
12:1Student:Faculty
61%Grad Rate
$43,296Earnings 10yr
$16,295Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

West Liberty University Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate72.1%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1041

Reading & WritingMid: 528
470585
MathMid: 505
420540

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 21
1824

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

72.1%

Trend

SAT Avg

1041

Yield Rate

35.0%

Get access to view details →

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$8,732
Tuition (out-of-state)$17,116
Room & Board$10,694
Books & Supplies$1,140
Total Cost of Attendance$23,526
Average Net Price$16,295
Median Debt at Graduation$23,250
Monthly Payment (10yr)$246

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$13,368
$30–48K$14,580
$48–75K$16,744
$75–110K$19,852
$110K+$19,090

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

51.2%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$16,000

Get access to view details →
Get access to view details →

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

9

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

2

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

3

Drug Arrests

2

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (33)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

69%

Negative
  • •69% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
1,578
Gender Split
61% / 39%
Women / Men
First Generation
36%
Pell Grant Recipients
32%

Race & Ethnicity

White 83%
Black 5%
Two+ 6%
Int'l 3%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate60.6%
Freshman Retention69.1%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$36,822
10 Years$43,296

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
↑2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
↓1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
↑3
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

VolleyballSoftballBaseballSoccerAcrobatic

History & Fun Facts

  • •History What is now West Liberty University was established as West Liberty Academy on March 30, 1837, before the state broke away from Virginia during the American Civil War.
  • •West Liberty was approved to become a university by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission in November 2008.
  • •The West Liberty Board of Governors voted to change to West Liberty University on May 3, 2009.
  • •Tim Borchers was appointed as the university's 38th president on May 12, 2023, by the West Liberty University Board of Governors.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

PIT Pittsburgh30 mi
CLE Cleveland108 mi
CMH Columbus122 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA518 mi · ~14h 58m drive
New York, NY349 mi · ~10h 5m drive
Hartford, CT428 mi · ~12h 22m drive
Providence, RI492 mi · ~14h 13m drive
Albany, NY394 mi · ~11h 23m drive
Syracuse, NY304 mi · ~8h 47m drive
Rochester, NY258 mi · ~7h 27m drive
Buffalo, NY208 mi · ~6h 1m drive
Philadelphia, PA288 mi · ~8h 19m drive
Pittsburgh, PA37 mi · ~1h 4m drive
Harrisburg, PA196 mi · ~5h 40m drive
Newark, NJ340 mi · ~9h 49m drive
Washington, DC209 mi · ~6h 2m drive
Baltimore, MD220 mi · ~6h 21m drive
Atlanta, GA490 mi · ~14h 9m drive
Charlotte, NC341 mi · ~9h 51m drive
Raleigh, NC321 mi · ~9h 16m drive
Miami, FL995 mi · ~28h 45m drive
Orlando, FL805 mi · ~23h 15m drive
Tampa, FL850 mi · ~24h 33m drive
Nashville, TN435 mi · ~12h 34m drive
New Orleans, LA885 mi · ~25h 34m drive
Richmond, VA249 mi · ~7h 12m drive
Chicago, IL385 mi · ~11h 7m drive
Detroit, MI196 mi · ~5h 40m drive
Minneapolis, MN724 mi · ~20h 55m drive
St. Louis, MO523 mi · ~15h 7m drive
Kansas City, MO747 mi · ~21h 35m drive
Indianapolis, IN295 mi · ~8h 31m drive
Columbus, OH128 mi · ~3h 42m drive
Cleveland, OH108 mi · ~3h 7m drive
Milwaukee, WI426 mi · ~12h 18m drive
Dallas, TX1032 mi · ~29h 49m drive
Houston, TX1100 mi · ~31h 47m drive
Austin, TX1181 mi · ~34h 7m drive
San Antonio, TX1253 mi · ~36h 12m drive
Los Angeles, CA2100 mi · ~60h 40m drive
San Francisco, CA2232 mi · ~64h 29m drive
San Diego, CA2080 mi · ~60h 5m drive
Seattle, WA2113 mi · ~61h 3m drive
Portland, OR2138 mi · ~61h 46m drive
Denver, CO1288 mi · ~37h 13m drive
Phoenix, AZ1792 mi · ~51h 46m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1637 mi · ~47h 17m drive
Honolulu, HI4626 mi · ~133h 38m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Pittsburgh (PIT)30 miles
Rental car
45 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
60 min$36-60
Cleveland (CLE)108 miles
Rental car
162 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
216 min$130-216

Deadline Calendar

Get access to view details →

West Liberty University Application Checklist

Get access to view details →

Decision Notifications

Get access to view details →
West Liberty University — v2 Preview — TourStack