West Virginia University
West Virginia University is the public land-grant flagship in Morgantown, enrolling roughly 18,200 undergraduates and drawing the majority of them from outside the state. Admission stays accessible for a research university of its size: about 77% of some 20,000 applicants earn an offer, and enrolled first-years carry an average high school GPA near 3.70 with middle-50% SAT scores of 1010–1210. Business and marketing leads the degrees WVU confers at about 17%, followed by engineering and the health professions, and the school pairs a Mountaineer culture and an 83% first-year retention rate with one of the more affordable out-of-state prices among flagship universities.
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West Virginia admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Admissions
West Virginia does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
West Virginia is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Admissions Factors
How West Virginia weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from West Virginia's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $18,504 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about West Virginia admissions
Is it hard to get into West Virginia University?＋
No, WVU is not hard to get into. It admitted about 77.3% of roughly 20,000 applicants in the most recent cycle, which makes it one of the more accessible public flagships. Admission weighs academic GPA as the only very important factor, so strong grades carry the most weight in a holistic review.
What are my chances of getting into WVU from out of state?＋
Out-of-state applicants have strong odds at WVU. In the most recent CDS data (Fall 2024), the university admitted about 81% of out-of-state applicants, slightly higher than its 74% in-state rate, and more than half of all undergraduates come from outside West Virginia. WVU treats state residency and geographical residence as factors it does not consider in admission, so where you live does not work against your application.
What GPA do you need to get into WVU?＋
Aim for roughly a 3.70 GPA, the average high school GPA of enrolled first-years at WVU. Academic GPA is the single very important factor in the review, and there is no firm minimum, so a record below average can still earn admission when paired with solid coursework. About 35% of admitted students reported a 4.0.
Is a 1100 SAT good enough for WVU?＋
Yes, a 1100 is right in range for WVU. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1010–1210 on the SAT and 20–26 on the ACT, so 1100 sits near the median. WVU is test-optional, meaning you can apply without scores, but a 1100 or above strengthens an application and helps with merit-scholarship consideration.
Is WVU test-optional?＋
Yes, WVU is test-optional, so you can apply without submitting SAT or ACT scores. Among enrolled first-years who did submit, the middle 50% scored 1010–1210 on the SAT and 20–26 on the ACT. If you send scores, they count as a considered factor and can support placement, advising, and merit awards.
How much does WVU cost in-state vs. out-of-state?＋
Annual tuition and required fees run about $10,104 for West Virginia residents and $28,608 for out-of-state students, a smaller premium than many flagships charge nonresidents. Roughly 57% of first-years receive need-based aid, with an average need-based package near $16,888, and WVU meets about 62% of demonstrated need on average.
What are the most popular majors at WVU?＋
Business and marketing is the largest field at about 17% of bachelor's degrees, followed by engineering at 12% and the health professions at 9%. The biological and life sciences and the social sciences round out the top areas, and as a land-grant university WVU also runs sizable programs in agriculture, journalism, and forestry.
Does the application essay matter at WVU?＋
Not much for admission. WVU lists the application essay as a factor it does not consider, basing first-year decisions chiefly on academic GPA. An essay still helps for competitive scholarships and honors programs, where reviewers read for fit and writing quality beyond the numbers.
Source: West Virginia University Common Data Set 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-10. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with West Virginia. Banner photo by Swimmerguy269, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).