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Colleges in and near South Charleston

South Charleston is home to BridgeValley Community & Technical College

BridgeValley Community & Technical College (1,400 students on campus) is inside the city, and West Virginia State University (2,991) is 4 miles from the center, in Institute. About 1% of South Charleston’s residents are enrolled in college, below West Virginia (5%).

BridgeValley Community & Technical CollegeWest Virginia State University

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 South Charleston. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
5,861 students on campus
Nearest college
1.1 mi
BridgeValley Community & Technical College
Residents in college
1%
Below WV (5%)
Nearest community college
1.1 mi
BridgeValley Community & Technical College · $5,800 tuition
Nearest public university
4 mi
West Virginia State · $9,570 in-state
Median household income
$64K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in South Charleston

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

Two colleges within 4 milesWest Virginia State University admits 96% of applicants. Together they have 4,391 students on campus.A community college 1.1 miles awayBridgeValley Community & Technical College in South Charleston: tuition and fees $5,800 a year for West Virginia residents.In-state price at West Virginia StateLiving in West Virginia, West Virginia State University charges $9,570 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $14,990. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 1% of residentsBelow West Virginia (5%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of South Charleston

Two private colleges within 7.1 miles, one public college within 4 miles, and BridgeValley Community & Technical College 1.1 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miWest Virginia StateBridgeValley Community & Technical CollegeUniversity of CharlestonSouth Charleston
University or collegeCommunity college
BridgeValley Community & Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,400 on campus · In South Charleston$5knet price34%graduate$36kearningsTuition and fees: $5,800 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.West Virginia State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 2,991 on campus · 4 mi · Institute96%admitted$11knet price39%graduate$40kearningsUniversity of CharlestonUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,287 on campus · 5.2 mi · Charleston · mostly online62%admitted$22knet price46%graduate$56kearnings53% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.West Virginia Junior College-CharlestonUniversity or college · For-profit · 183 on campus · 7.1 mi · Cross Lanes$13knet price60%graduate$27kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.

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 $48–75k, where South Charleston’s median household income ($63,884) falls.

BridgeValley Community & Technical CollegeIn South Charleston · sticker $12,299 · tuition $5,800$7,211a year
West Virginia State University4 mi · Institute · sticker $19,772$10,703a year
West Virginia Junior College-Charleston7.1 mi · Cross Lanes · sticker $22,249$13,513a year
University of Charleston5.2 mi · Charleston · mostly online · sticker $46,470$16,945a 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 South Charleston: 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 →BridgeValley Community & Technical CollegeWest Virginia StateUniversity of CharlestonWest Virginia Junior College-Charleston
West Virginia State University39% graduate$40k earnings$23k typical debt
BridgeValley Community & Technical College34% graduate$36k earnings$10k typical debt
University of Charleston46% graduate$56k earnings$20k typical debt
West Virginia Junior College-Charleston60% graduate$27k earnings*$8k 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 Junior College-Charleston (2).

Majors

What students study in South Charleston

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at BridgeValley Community & Technical College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 50%Engineering tech 16%Liberal arts 8%Science tech 7%Computer science 6%Business 4%Everything else 9%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing56 graduates a year
$80k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities27 graduates a year
$43k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions25 graduates a year
$60k4 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions13 graduates a year
$54k4 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 South Charleston

Is South Charleston a college town?

No. About 1 of every 100 South Charleston residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below West Virginia (5). The largest campus in the city, BridgeValley Community & Technical College, has 1,400 students on campus.

What colleges are in South Charleston?

BridgeValley Community & Technical College is inside the city. West Virginia State University is 4 miles from the center, in Institute.

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

BridgeValley Community & Technical College in South Charleston, 1.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,800 a year for West Virginia residents; the federal net price, $4,565, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does West Virginia State University cost if we live in West Virginia?

Tuition and fees are $9,570 a year in-state and $14,990 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,457 (under $30,000 income) to $17,355 (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 South Charleston. 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 →