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Beckley, West VirginiaPhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near Beckley

Beckley is home to two colleges, with 1,150 students on campus

West Virginia University Institute of Technology (969 students on campus) and Valley College-Beckley (181) are inside the city. About 6% of Beckley’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as West Virginia (5%).

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Beckley. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
2,060 students on campus
Nearest college
1.2 mi
West Virginia University Institute of Technology
Residents in college
6%
About the same as WV (5%)
Nearest community college
1.4 mi
New River Community and Technical College · $5,156 tuition
Nearest public university
1.2 mi
West Virginia University Institute of Technology · $8,424 in-state
Median household income
$46K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Beckley

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A university in BeckleyWest Virginia University Institute of Technology has 969 students on campus in Beckley, 33% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at West Virginia University Institute of TechnologyLiving in West Virginia, West Virginia University Institute of Technology charges $8,424 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $21,072. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 1.4 miles awayNew River Community and Technical College in Beaver: tuition and fees $5,156 a year for West Virginia residents.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as West Virginia (5%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Beckley

Two private colleges within 5.9 miles, one public college within 1.2 miles, and New River Community and Technical College 1.4 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miWest Virginia University Institute of TechnologyAppalachian Bible CollegeBeckley
University or collegeCommunity college
West Virginia University Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · Public · 969 on campus · In Beckley37%admitted$9knet price33%graduate$56kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.New River Community and Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 706 on campus · 1.4 mi · Beaver$4knet price36%graduate$29kearningsTuition and fees: $5,156 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Valley College-BeckleyUniversity or college · For-profit · 181 on campus · In Beckley$25knet price62%graduate$24kearningsAppalachian Bible CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 204 on campus · 5.9 mi · Mount Hope78%admitted$12knet price71%graduate$37kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $30–48k, where Beckley’s median household income ($45,826) falls.

New River Community and Technical College1.4 mi · Beaver · sticker $12,132 · tuition $5,156$3,804a year
West Virginia University Institute of TechnologyIn Beckley · sticker $18,907$6,752a year
Appalachian Bible College5.9 mi · Mount Hope · sticker $31,423$10,235a year
Valley College-BeckleyIn Beckley · sticker $31,973$25,611a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Beckley: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →West Virginia University Institute of TechnologyNew River Community and Technical CollegeValley College-BeckleyAppalachian Bible College
West Virginia University Institute of Technology33% graduate$56k earnings*$22k typical debt
New River Community and Technical College36% graduate$29k earnings$7k typical debt
Appalachian Bible College71% graduate$37k earnings$11k typical debt
Valley College-Beckley62% graduate$24k earnings$10k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: West Virginia University Institute of Technology (3).

Majors

What students study in Beckley

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Beckley’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Engineering 23%Business 15%Health professions 14%Liberal arts 11%Public safety 10%Biology 8%Everything else 20%

Biggest programs

Biology, GeneralWest Virginia University Institute of Technology · 23 graduates a year
$57k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesWest Virginia University Institute of Technology · 21 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralWest Virginia University Institute of Technology · 17 graduates a year
$51k4 yrs out
Civil EngineeringWest Virginia University Institute of Technology · 11 graduates a year
$82k4 yrs out
Mechanical EngineeringWest Virginia University Institute of Technology · 10 graduates a year
$90k4 yrs out
Business/Commerce, GeneralWest Virginia University Institute of Technology · 9 graduates a year
$65k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related ServicesWest Virginia University Institute of Technology · 8 graduates a year
$76k4 yrs out
Political Science and GovernmentWest Virginia University Institute of Technology · 7 graduates a year
$57k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Beckley

Is Beckley a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Beckley residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as West Virginia (5). The largest campus in the city, West Virginia University Institute of Technology, has 969 students on campus.

What colleges are in Beckley?

West Virginia University Institute of Technology and Valley College-Beckley are inside the city. New River Community and Technical College is 1.4 miles away in Beaver.

What is the closest community college to Beckley, and what does it cost?

New River Community and Technical College in Beaver, 1.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,156 a year for West Virginia residents; the federal net price, $3,599, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does West Virginia University Institute of Technology cost if we live in West Virginia?

Tuition and fees are $8,424 a year in-state and $21,072 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,998 (under $30,000 income) to $14,797 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Beckley. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →