West Virginia Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide

West Virginia teachers are required to complete a state teacher preparation program from an accredited school in order to become eligible to teach in the state’s education system. For aspiring teachers, this guide to teacher preparation programs in the state provides key information on the various options available for pursuing a teaching degree in West Virginia. Fortunately, there are several colleges and universities that offer degree programs to prepare students in the state to become teachers or advance in an established teaching career. This guide to teaching degrees in West Virginia contains lists of top-rated teaching programs, a table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs, and student reviews. Whether you are looking to further your current career as a teacher or are embarking on a brand new career, this guide is a great place to find the best school for your individual needs.

Table of Contents

• Teacher Preparation Program Comparison
• Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs
• Select Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees
• Schools with Associate Degrees in Education
• Student Reviews

Quick Facts

• There are 25 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in West Virginia.¹
• 8 schools offer an associate’s degree in education.¹
• 17 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in education.¹
• 10 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.¹
• No schools ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2022.²
• 2 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2023.³
• 3 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Education Programs 2022.⁴
• 14 educator preparation providers (EPPs) are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP.⁵
• 3 educator preparation providers (EPPs) are accredited by the AAQEP.⁶

For not-for-profit schools with teacher degree programs.

Comparison of West Virginia Schools with Teacher Preparation Programs

We have designed the following table to help you compare teacher preparation programs in West Virginia according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) for the preparation of teachers. Completing a state-approved teacher preparation program is an important step towards earning licensure.

While accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is not a requirement for licensure, it is included in the following table as CAEP provides a highly-regarded accreditation that is accepted in many states.

You will also find data on teacher preparation program enrollment, completion, and licensing exam pass rates by institution, for both traditional and alternative programs, for the 2019-2020 academic year in this table. These data points are collected from annual US Department of Education reports under Title II (Teacher Quality) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which holds institutions and state departments of education accountable for increasing academic achievement through improvements in teacher quality. Traditional teacher preparation programs are usually completed as part of a bachelor’s degree program. Alternative certification programs are typically designed for career changers looking to enter the field and lead to a postgraduate certificate or a master’s degree. Many schools in our table offer both traditional and alternative programs. Take a look at our West Virginia traditional and alternative certification guides for more information.

Finally, we have provided the net price per year for undergraduate tuition, based on the cost of attendance (tuition, books, room and board, and related expenses) for students who qualify for in-state tuition and fees, less the average financial aid award (including grants and scholarships).

• — indicates none or not applicable.
• N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.

Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs in West Virginia

US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2023

• West Virginia University (#153 tie)
• Marshall University (#168 tie)

US News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Education Programs 2022

• Concord University (#108 tie)
• West Virginia University (#120 tie)
• Marshall University (#140 tie)

Select West Virginia Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees

Marshall University

Marshall University, located in Huntington, is home to the College of Education and Professional Development. Marshall offers three Bachelor of Arts (BA) programs for undergraduates: a BA in Early Childhood Education, a BA in Elementary Education, and a BA in Secondary Education. Secondary Education areas of licensure include Art, Music, Wellness, Social Studies, Mathematics, General Science, English, Biological Science, Chemistry, and Physics. There is also an undergraduate endorsement offered in Special Education. Graduate students may choose from programs including a Master of Arts (MA) in Education with several emphasis options; a licensure-track Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT); a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Curriculum & Instruction or Leadership Studies; an MA in Literacy Studies; and a Master of Science (MS) in Adult and Continuing Education. Most of Marshall’s graduate programs are offered in online formats designed for students who are employed full-time.

University of West Virginia

Morgantown is home to the University of West Virginia’s (WVU) College of Education and Human Services. The college confers undergraduate degrees including a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Elementary Education, a Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies (BMDS) in Education and Human Services, a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Child Development and Family Studies (with pre-K certification option), and a BS in Early Childhood Special Education. Graduate students seeking initial licensure may pursue the Master of Arts (MA) in Education or MA in Multicategorical Special Education programs. Other graduate programs include an MA in Literacy Education; an MA in Higher Education Administration (with a Student Affairs Specialization option); and an MA in Instructional Design and Technology. Doctoral programs include a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Higher Education Administration; a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Higher Education; a PhD in Educational Theory and Practice; an EdD in Instructional Design and Technology; and a PhD in Learning Sciences and Human Development.

Schools with Associate Degrees in Education

While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate’s degree can be the first step towards a career in education. It can qualify graduates for careers in non-licensed roles in early childhood education, after-school care, and related areas. The credits earned from an accredited associate degree program can also typically be transferred towards a bachelor’s degree. The following West Virginia schools offer associate’s degrees in education.¹ Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.

Alderson Broaddus University*
101 College Hill Dr
Philippi, WV 26416
(304) 457-1700
www.ab.edu

Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
13650 Apple Harvest Dr
Martinsburg, WV 25403
(304) 260-4380
www.blueridgectc.edu

BridgeValley Community and Technical College
2001 Union Carbide Dr
South Charleston, WV 25303
(304) 205-6600
www.bridgevalley.edu

Davis & Elkins College*
100 Campus Dr
Elkins, WV 26241
(304) 637-1900
www.dewv.edu

Mountwest Community and Technical College
1 Mountwest Way
Huntington, WV 25701
(304) 244-1424
www.mctc.edu

New River Community and Technical College
280 University Dr
Beaver, WV 25813
(304) 929-5450
www.newriver.edu

Pierpont Community and Technical College
500 Galliher Dr
Fairmont, WV 26554
(304) 367-4907
www.pierpont.edu

Potomac State College of West Virginia University
101 Fort Ave
Keyser, WV 26726
(304) 788-6820
www.potomacstatecollege.edu

Student Reviews

Marshall University
1 John Marshall Dr
Huntington, WV 25755
(304) 696-3170
https://www.marshall.edu/

Student Review: “There were many aspects of the Education program that I enjoyed at Marshall University. I sincerely appreciated the number of child psychology classes that we were required to take in order to not only aid in our abilities to teach children but to also help us better understand them. It was also very helpful to have several levels of clinicals to have real ‘hands-on’ experience. One of the frustrating aspects of being a Music Education major was that the Music Department and Education Department function as two very separate entities. Although some aspects could be improved, I would say I had an extremely positive experience in this program.” -Melanie B., student at Marshall University

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. The Princeton Review. The Best 385 Colleges, 2022 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2021.
3. US News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools 2023: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings
4. US News & World Report Best Online Graduate Education Schools 2022: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/rankings
5. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): http://caepnet.org/provider-search
6. Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP): https://aaqep.org/accredited-programs
7. US Department of Education 2021 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx