Introduction
West Virginia University (WVU) is a public research university located in Morgantown, West Virginia. Home of the Mountaineers, West Virginia University was founded in 1867 as the Agricultural College of West Virginia.
West Virginia University
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Information Summary
| Overall Score (about) | 84.5 |
| Total Cost On-Campus Attendance | $23,294 |
| Admission Success rate | N/A |
| ACT / SAT 75%ile scores | 27 / 1240 |
| Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty | 21 : 1 |
| Retention (full-time / part-time) | 76% / 27% |
| Enrollment Total (all students) | 26,864 |
Academics
West Virginia University is organized into 15 degree-granting colleges or schools. WVU also has an Honors College. Colleges include the Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry, & Consumer Sciences; Eberly College of Arts & Sciences; College of Business & Economics; College of Creative Arts; College of Engineering & Mineral Resources; and the College of Human Resources & Education.
Some of the most popular majors offered at West Virginia University include business, management, marketing, and related support services; engineering; communication, journalism, and related programs; political sciences; and health professions and related clinical sciences.
Major fields of study include agriculture, architecture, biological and biomedical sciences; parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies; philosophy and religious studies; and visual and performing arts.
Core Requirements
All West Virginia University students are required to take specified courses in humanities, mathematics, English, biological or physical sciences, and social sciences.
Most Popular Fields of Study
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Admissions
Applying for admission to West Virginia University is every student’s first step to joining the Mountaineer Nation.
Potential students can apply for admission to West Virginia University directly on the school’s official website or by filling out a printable application. All applications must be accompanied by a modest non-refundable application fee, which varies based on the student’s current status. Freshmen applicants are current high school seniors or high school graduates or GED recipients that have not enrolled full-time at any other college or university. Transfer students have completed college-level work at another college or university. International students are non-U.S. citizens that will be enrolling at WVU with F-1 or J-1 visa status. Readmitted students are former WVU students that have left school for at least one complete semester.
Although WVU has a rolling admissions policy, students are encouraged to apply as early as possible due to the fact that on-campus housing and other space-limited programs fill up quickly. Contact the WVU Admissions Office for full details about applying.
Financial Aid
The cost to attend West Virginia University is considered surprisingly reasonable, and WVU awards over $300 million in financial aid and scholarships each year. Financial aid is available in the form of grants, scholarships, and loans.
In order to determine their eligibility for financial aid at WVU, students must complete a Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) each year. Students are encouraged to submit their FAFSA as soon as it is available each January.
WVU awards various scholarships to incoming freshman each year. Specific requirements vary, and students can receive detailed information regarding the scholarships offered from the West Virginia University Undergraduate Scholarship Office.
Undergraduate Scholarships for West Virginia Residents
Foundation Scholarship: Covers cost of attendance as determined by the Office of Financial Aid for four undergraduate years, plus a one-time $4,500 stipend for study abroad/academic enhancement
Bucklew Scholarship: Presidential Scholarship, a book stipend and $2,500 toward other costs for four undergraduate years. Approximate total value is over $6,600 per year
University Merit Scholarship: $6,000 per year for four undergraduate years, plus a one-time $3,500 stipend for study abroad/academic enhancement
Presidential Scholarship: $3,000 per year for four undergraduate years
Rhododendron Scholarship: $2,500 per year for four undergraduate years
Mountaineer Scholarship: $2,000 per year for four undergraduate years
Governor’s Honors Academy Scholarship: $1,500 per year for four undergraduate years
G. Belmont Berry Scholarship: $1,200 per year for four undergraduate years
Shenandoah Scholarship: $1,000 for the first year and $500 for the second year
Achievement Award: $1,000 for the first year
Undergraduate Scholarships for Residents of Other States
University Merit: $18,000 per year for four undergraduate years, plus a one-time $3,500 stipend for study abroad/academic enhancement
Academic Excellence Levels 1 and 2: Up to $12,000 per year for four undergraduate years
Blue and Gold Levels 1 and 2: Up to $4,000 per year for four undergraduate years
Student Financial Aid Details
Students
Approximately 10 to 15 percent of WVU students are actively involved in Greek life. Sixteen fraternities and eight sororities are recognized by the university. WVU also offers more than 300 student-run organizations and clubs. New student groups are also encouraged. The Student Government Association, or SAG, serves as the voice of the student body while the Mountaineer Maniacs, the official WVU student section for all athletic events, is the largest student-run group on campus.
West Virginia University students have access to a wide variety of campus facilities, which include:
The Mountainlair
The Mountainlair is considered the hub of student life on campus. Students can grab lunch at the food court, go bowling in the games area, watch a movie in the Gluck Theater, see guest speakers and performers, or attend various career fairs and festivals. The Mountainlair is also home to a helpful information desk.
Downtown Campus Library
The Downtown Campus Library is the largest of WVU’s four libraries. Students have access to thousands of books and periodicals, nearly 200 public computers, 100 wireless laptops available for in-library use, group study rooms, a helpful media services department, and even a café. Interestingly, the Downtown Campus Library also houses the world’s largest Isaac Asimov collection.
Creative Arts Center
The WVU Creative Arts Center offers students exciting entertainment opportunities such as Off-Broadway plays, comedians, concerts by nationally-known musicians, and recitals, concerts, and exhibits by students and faculty. Offices for the College of Creative Arts are also located in the Creative Arts Center, which is home to classrooms, computer labs, art studios, ceramic shops, a theater costume shop, dark rooms, practice rooms, and studios.
Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium
Located beside the WVU Colisum, Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium is where fans turn out in droves to watch West Virginia University soccer games. It is one of the nation’s premier athletic facilities and one of the biggest soccer fields in the NCAA.
Student Enrollment Demographics
Student Graduation Demographics
Athletics
West Virginia University’s sports teams are known as the Mountaineers and WVU’s official school colors are gold and blue. The Mountaineers compete in the Big East Conference; a member of NCAA Division I. WVU has teams in 17 college sports that have won several national championships, including an impressive 14 NCAA Rifle Championships. West Virginia residents are passionate WVU fans because the state lacks professional sports. The most popular WVU sports include football and basketball.
The West Virginia University Mountaineer Marching Band, which is nicknamed “The Pride of West Virginia,” performs at every home football game and makes both local and national appearances throughout the year.
For students who enjoy athletics but do not want to participate at the intercollegiate level, the WVU Student Rec Center offers a wide variety of fun ways to stay or get in shape. Aquatics facilities, a climbing wall, group exercise classes, intramurals, and a Sports Club program are all popular with students. Students can learn a new sport or enhance their skills.
Local Community
Morgantown, home of West Virginia University, has been ranked as the #1 Small City in America, the Best Small City in the East, and the 3rd-Best Small Town in the nation.
The latest U.S. Census population estimates show that Morgantown is West Virginia’s fourth largest city. Points of interest include Core Arboretum, a 91-acre arboretum owned by West Virginia University; Dorsey Knob, a mountain summit located at the southern edge of Morgantown just off U.S. Route 119; the Warner Theater, a historic Art Deco movie theater which was open from 1931 to 2010; and Cheat Lake, a 13-mile reservoir on the Cheat River.
Students and local residents can travel easily thanks to the Morgantown Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) which is a one-of-a-kind people mover system that connects the Morgantown campuses of West Virginia University and the downtown area.
Alumni
Prominent West Virginia University alumni include:
- Don Knotts, popular TV and movie actor
- Chris Henry, former NFL wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals
- Owen Schmitt , fullback for the Philadelphia Eagles
- John Chambers, President and CEO of Cisco Systems
- Stephen Coonts, New York Times bestselling author
- James Valenti, tenor at the Metropolitan Opera
- Melanne Pennington, 1984 Miss West Virginia
- Jon McBride, astronaut
Bibliography
- Grath, Anne, ed. U.S. News & World Report: Ultimate College Guide. Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2010. Print.
- West Virginia University. Web. 17 July 2011.
- City of Morgantown. Web. 18 July 2011.
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