West Virginia State University
Institute, West Virginia · Public · 1,321 undergraduates · wvstateu.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
96%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
760 to 1040
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$26,530Est.Estimate
$32,410 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at West Virginia State University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
96% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$32,410
a year in 2027-28, from a $32,410 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 900
Send your score
Your SAT is at or above the median of freshmen who sent scores (900).
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
- ACCUPLACER placement testing for students without ACT/SAT scores (placement, not admission)
Source: Testing Services - West Virginia State University · Checked October 17, 2026
Who gets in
96%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 760 to 1040
Reading and Writing 410 to 550
Math 350 to 490
ACT composite 15 to 20
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$26,530
a year, in state
$32,410
a year, out of state (tuition $16,090)
- Tuition (in state)$10,210
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$13,581
- $30,001 to $48,000$10,767
- $48,001 to $75,000$14,317
- $75,001 to $110,000Not reported
- Over $110,000$18,280
Financial aidEstimate
88%
of freshmen receive grants
$8,993
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
West Virginia programs for residents
Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program
$10,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.25+ GPA, Elementary or special education track; HS senior or recent grad with no prior degree-seeking enrollment; enroll in approved WV teacher-prep program; 5-year WV public school teaching service obligation, from West Virginia
- 3.25+ GPA, Math or science teaching track; HS senior or recent grad with no prior degree-seeking enrollment; enroll in approved WV teacher-prep program; 5-year WV public school teaching service obligation, from West Virginia
PROMISE Scholarship
$5,500 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.00+ GPA, 1080+ SAT or 21+ ACT, Standard (single tier); Complete HS graduation requirements at a WV public or private HS; Promise application + FAFSA by March 1, 2027; full-time first-year; apply within 2 years of HS graduation; U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
36 of 37
Earn credit with a score of 3
36 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,020Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ART 213 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ART 103 |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | ART 200 |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | BIO 101-102 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | MATH 206 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | MATH 207 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 3 | CHEM 105 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 5 | CHEM 105 & 107 |
| Chemistry | 5 | 10 | CHEM 105, 106, 107 & 108 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POSC Elective |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 3 | CS 100 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | ||
| Drawing | 3 | 3 | ART 102 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENGL 101 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENGL 150 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 | BIOL 108 |
| European History | 3 | 6 | HIST Elective |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | FREN 101 & 102 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | GER 101 & 102 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | GEO 201 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | |
| Latin | 3 | 3 | Elective |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 201 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 202 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 3 | MUS 101 |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 3 | |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 3 | |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | PHYS 232 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | PHYS 231 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSYC 151 |
| Research | 3 | 3 | |
| Seminar | 3 | 3 | |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 6 | SPAN 101, 102 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 6 | SPAN Elective |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | PSYC 200 or BA 203 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POSC 101 |
| United States History | 3 | 6 | HIST 207/208 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 6 | HIST 201/202 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
36%
Come back for a second year
57%
Typical earnings
$43,742
a year, 10 years after starting here
- West Virginia State University$51,172
- All colleges$71,390
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 10 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with West Virginia State University. The West Virginia State University logo is a trademark of the college; image by CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.