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West Virginia Independence HallPhoto: WeaponizingArchitecture · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Wheeling

Wheeling is home to two colleges, with 1,312 students on campus

West Virginia Northern Community College (677 students on campus) and Wheeling University (635) are inside the city. About 5% of Wheeling’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 Wheeling. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
5,621 students on campus
Nearest college
0.3 mi
Wheeling University
Residents in college
5%
About the same as WV (5%)
Nearest community college
1.7 mi
West Virginia Northern · $4,706 tuition
Nearest public university
7.8 mi
West Liberty University · $8,893 in-state
Median household income
$49K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Wheeling

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

A university in WheelingWheeling University has 635 students on campus in Wheeling, 23% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 1.7 miles awayWest Virginia Northern Community College in Wheeling: tuition and fees $4,706 a year for West Virginia residents.In-state price at West Liberty UniversityLiving in West Virginia, West Liberty University charges $8,893 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $17,442. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 5% 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 Wheeling

Two private colleges within 11.5 miles, two public colleges within 14.9 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miWest Liberty UniversityOhio University-Eastern CampusWheeling
University or collegeCommunity college
Wheeling UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 635 on campus · In Wheeling63%admitted$21knet price23%graduate$58kearningsWest Virginia Northern Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 677 on campus · In Wheeling$5knet price33%graduate$30kearningsTuition and fees: $4,706 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.West Liberty UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 2,058 on campus · 7.8 mi · West Liberty97%admitted$15knet price60%graduate$43kearningsBethany CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 645 on campus · 11.5 mi · Bethany59%admitted$19knet price47%graduate$45kearningsBelmont CollegeCommunity college · Public · 735 on campus · 14.4 mi · St Clairsville, OH$7knet price43%graduate$35kearningsTuition and fees: $4,698 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Ohio University-Eastern CampusUniversity or college · Public · 871 on campus · 14.9 mi · Saint Clairsville, OH$4knet price21%graduate$53kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 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 Wheeling’s median household income ($48,590) falls.

Ohio University-Eastern Campus14.9 mi · Saint Clairsville, OH · sticker $10,777$4,438a year
West Virginia Northern Community CollegeIn Wheeling · sticker $13,512 · tuition $4,706$6,627a year
Belmont College14.4 mi · St Clairsville, OH · sticker $12,680 · tuition $4,698$7,617a year
West Liberty University7.8 mi · West Liberty · sticker $23,809$15,087a year
Bethany College11.5 mi · Bethany · sticker $50,758$17,641a year
Wheeling UniversityIn Wheeling · sticker $42,504$19,913a 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 Wheeling: 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 →Wheeling UniversityWest Virginia NorthernWest Liberty UniversityBelmont CollegeOhio University-Eastern Campus
West Liberty University60% graduate$43k earnings$23k typical debt
Ohio University-Eastern Campus21% graduate$53k earnings*$21k typical debt
Belmont College43% graduate$35k earnings$9k typical debt
West Virginia Northern Community College33% graduate$30k earnings$10k typical debt
Bethany College47% graduate$45k earnings$27k typical debt
Wheeling University23% graduate$58k earnings$25k 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: Ohio University-Eastern Campus (6).

Majors

What students study in Wheeling

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

Health professions 37%Business 16%Liberal arts 12%Engineering tech 7%Computer science 6%Education 5%Everything else 18%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesWest Virginia Northern Community College · 92 graduates a year
$36k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingWest Virginia Northern Community College · 35 graduates a year
$69k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsWheeling University · 25 graduates a year
$67k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsWest Virginia Northern Community College · 22 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Business/Commerce, GeneralWest Virginia Northern Community College · 8 graduates a year
$37k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralWheeling University · 3 graduates a year
$45k4 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 Wheeling

Is Wheeling a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Wheeling residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as West Virginia (5). The largest campus in the city, West Virginia Northern Community College, has 677 students on campus.

What colleges are in Wheeling?

West Virginia Northern Community College and Wheeling University are inside the city.

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

West Virginia Northern Community College in Wheeling, 1.7 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.

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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 Wheeling. 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 →