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West Virginia Wesleyan College — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Buckhannon, WV · 954 students

The verdict

West Virginia Wesleyan College charges a net price of $18,083/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $72,332. Graduates earn a median $51,593 ten years after entry, $3,233/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 22.4 years — a 20-year net return of -$7,672, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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West Virginia Wesleyan College's 22.4-year payback ranks #1,087 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 15% of them, and #6 of 30 in West Virginia.

Better ROI than 15% of US colleges#1,087 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$18,083
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$51,593
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
22.4 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
93%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
West Virginia Wesleyan College: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$18,083/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$72,332our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$51,593Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$3,233/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$27,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback22.4 yrsour math
20-year net return-$7,672our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on West Virginia Wesleyan College's own numbers. Net price $18,083 × 4 years = $72,332 total. Median earnings $51,593 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $3,233 a year of premium. $72,332 ÷ $3,233 = 22.4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$7,672. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do West Virginia Wesleyan College students graduate with?

A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 52% of the $51,593 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of West Virginia Wesleyan College students graduate?

57% finish their degree — 43% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $72,332 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $126,898 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is West Virginia Wesleyan College expensive compared with other West Virginia colleges?

Its $18,083 net price runs $7,353 above the $10,730 median across the 30 West Virginia colleges we profile, or $29,412 more across the full degree.

West Virginia Wesleyan College: frequently asked questions

Is West Virginia Wesleyan College worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. West Virginia Wesleyan College charges $18,083/yr after aid ($72,332 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $51,593 ten years out — $3,233/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 22.4 years and returns -$7,672 net over 20 years, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone.
How long does a West Virginia Wesleyan College degree take to pay off?
About 22.4 years. We divide the $72,332 four-year net cost by the $3,233/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does West Virginia Wesleyan College cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $18,083/yr — about $72,332 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does West Virginia Wesleyan College compare to other West Virginia colleges?
It ranks #6 of 30 West Virginia colleges we track by payback. Its $51,593 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $18,083 net price is above the national median of $16,902.