Educational Attainment
Only about 21.9% of West Virginia adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the lowest share of any state.
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year (FRED GCT1502WV).
| Indicator | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher (%) | 21.9 | 34.3 |
- •West Virginia has ranked last among states for four-year college attainment for over a decade.
Schools
West Virginia operates about 640 public schools across its 55 county school districts.
Public schools reporting teachers
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
Public school enrollment (K-12)
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
- •West Virginia is one of the only states where school districts are organized entirely by county rather than by city.
Universities
West Virginia University in Morgantown and Marshall University in Huntington anchor the state’s higher education system.
College and graduate school students
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, undergraduate + graduate/professional, B14001 (2020 not released).
Graduation Rates
West Virginia's public high school graduation rate reached about 91.4% for the 2022-23 school year, above the national average.
Adults 25+ with a high school diploma or higher
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B15003 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| HS Graduation Rate (%) | 91.4 | 87 |
- •West Virginia's high school graduation rate is higher than the national average despite low college attainment.
Student Enrollment
West Virginia's public schools enrolled about 239,000 K-12 students in 2023-24, continuing a long-term decline.
People enrolled in school (age 3+)
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B14001 (2020 not released).
- •West Virginia's K-12 enrollment has declined for more than a decade as the state's population has aged and shrunk.
Student-Teacher Ratios
West Virginia has a favorable student-teacher ratio of about 13.1 to 1, lower than the national average.
Students per full-time teacher (public schools)
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
Full-time-equivalent public school teachers
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
| Indicator | West Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 13.1 | 15.4 |
- •West Virginia's shrinking enrollment has left it with one of the more favorable student-teacher ratios in the country.