DegreeMappercommunity colleges, mapped

Cheapest community colleges in West Virginia

Community colleges in West Virginia ranked by published in-state tuition, lowest first. Published tuition is the sticker price; the price you actually pay is typically much lower after federal Pell grants and state aid. Use this list as a starting point, then file the FAFSA to see your real cost.

  1. West Virginia University at ParkersburgParkersburg, WV$4,612
  2. West Virginia Northern Community CollegeWheeling, WV$4,706
  3. Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical CollegeMoorefield, WV$4,722
  4. Blue Ridge Community and Technical CollegeMartinsburg, WV$4,752
  5. Mountwest Community and Technical CollegeHuntington, WV$4,938
  6. Southern West Virginia Community and Technical CollegeLogan, WV$5,136
  7. New River Community and Technical CollegeBeaver, WV$5,156
  8. Potomac State College of West Virginia UniversityKeyser, WV$5,280
  9. Pierpont Community and Technical CollegeFairmont, WV$5,762
  10. BridgeValley Community & Technical CollegeSouth Charleston, WV$5,800
  11. Glenville State UniversityGlenville, WV$9,578
  12. Huntington Junior CollegeHuntington, WV$10,050
  13. West Virginia Junior College-BridgeportBridgeport, WV$14,798
  14. West Virginia Junior College-CharlestonCross Lanes, WV$14,798
  15. West Virginia Junior College-MorgantownMorgantown, WV$14,798

Reading the list

The figures above are the published in-state tuition rates each West Virginia community college reports to the U.S. Department of Education. These are the rates posted to the institution's tuition schedule before any aid is applied. For most West Virginia community-college students, federal Pell grants alone cover a substantial share of tuition, and state aid programs in West Virginia often cover the remainder for residents who qualify. Out-of-state tuition is typically higher; check the individual college profile for both rates.

Tuition alone is not the right comparison for a complete cost picture. The College Scorecard also reports total annual cost of attendance — tuition plus required fees, books, room and board (if applicable), and other expenses — which is the more meaningful number when you are budgeting for a year of school. Each college's full profile lists cost of attendance alongside tuition. For students who can live at home and avoid room-and-board costs, the gap between tuition and cost of attendance shrinks substantially.

If your goal is the lowest possible total cost, the cheapest tuition isn't always the right pick. A slightly more expensive program with a higher transfer rate or stronger articulation agreement with a four-year university may produce a lower total degree cost overall, because lost credit on transfer can erase the savings of a low community-college tuition.