Photo: Taber Andrew Bain from Richmond, VA, USA · CC BY 2.0Bethany College is 5.8 miles from Wellsburg
No college sits inside Wellsburg’s boundary, but Bethany College’s campus in Bethany, with 645 students on campus, is 5.8 miles from the center of town, and West Virginia Northern Community College is 16.1 miles away in Wheeling. About 4% of Wellsburg’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 Wellsburg. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Wellsburg
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Wellsburg
Two private colleges within 6.7 miles, one public college within 8.1 miles, and Eastern Gateway Community College 7.3 miles away.
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 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.
Starts at $30–48k, where Wellsburg’s median household income ($42,868) falls.
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.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Wellsburg: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
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.
Questions about college near Wellsburg
Is Wellsburg a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Wellsburg residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as West Virginia (5). The nearest campus, Bethany College, is 5.8 miles away in Bethany.
What colleges are near Wellsburg?
Within 15 miles: Bethany College (5.8 miles, 645 students on campus), Franciscan University of Steubenville (6.7 miles, 2,743), Eastern Gateway Community College (7.3 miles, 1,978) and West Liberty University (8.1 miles, 2,058).
What is the closest community college to Wellsburg, and what does it cost?
West Virginia Northern Community College in Wheeling, 16.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,706 a year for West Virginia residents; the federal net price, $5,329, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does West Liberty University cost if we live in West Virginia?
Tuition and fees are $8,893 a year in-state and $17,442 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,714 (under $30,000 income) to $18,566 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
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 Wellsburg. 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 →