University of Charleston

Private · Moderately Selective · WV

Photo: Antony-22 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationWV · South

SettingUrban

Undergrads2,259

Student:faculty15:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate35.6%

6-yr grad rate45.6%

Drop-out rate25.2%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$34k

Out-of-state tuition$34k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity34%

Gender diversity37.8%

International7.8%

Identity—

Overview

The University of Charleston is a private university on the Kanawha River in Charleston, West Virginia, sitting almost directly across from the state capitol's gold dome. It has built its identity around career-focused, professionally oriented education rather than a traditional liberal arts model.

Academics

Health sciences are the university's core strength, with pharmacy, nursing, and physician assistant studies all carrying strong regional reputations, alongside a well-regarded business program. Degree plans are structured around required practical experience, with internships and clinical placements built in rather than offered as optional extras.

Campus & student life

The compact, urban riverside campus keeps students close to downtown Charleston, and the capital-city setting gives students in health and business fields real proximity to hospitals, agencies, and employers for their required experiential work.

Getting in

Admission emphasizes fit with career-track programs, particularly for competitive health-science tracks like pharmacy and PA studies, where prior coursework and relevant experience matter as much as the general application.

After graduation

Graduates in pharmacy, nursing, and PA studies place strongly into West Virginia and regional healthcare systems, helped by the university's built-in clinical partnerships.

ucwv.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate61.5%

Enrolled mid-50%—

Test policynot used

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying