Programs & majors brief

West Virginia University Majors & Programs

Updated

Which majors earn the most at West Virginia University?

At West Virginia University, median earnings four years after completion vary markedly across the fields shown here. Industrial Engineering recorded $99,180 and 105 degrees awarded; Azimuth ranks it #26 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field.

Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences had median earnings of $70,165 across 167 degrees awarded, with an Azimuth national rank of #8 among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field. Nursing posted $83,750 with 223 degrees awarded; Azimuth places it #202 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field.

At a more moderate earnings level, Kinesiology and Physical Education recorded $57,359 and 200 degrees awarded, ranking #79 nationally by Azimuth among nonprofit four-year institutions in its field. The figures show distinct earnings levels even among programs with substantial numbers of degrees awarded.

Major mix · each dot ≈ 1% of completions

Share of reported completions in the bachelor’s programs included here. Each dot represents approximately 1% of those completions. Counts are credentials, not unique students; excluded programs are not zero activity.

  • Engineering710 · 16.0%
  • Business708 · 16.0%
  • Health professions434 · 9.8%
  • Biological sciences372 · 8.4%
  • Social sciences286 · 6.5%
  • Other1,914 · 43.3%

73 of 73 programs shown

Four-year earnings · first six matching programs
Mining and Mineral Engineering 17 degrees awarded
$109,619
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering 50 degrees awarded
$99,542
Industrial Engineering 105 degrees awarded
$99,180
Computer Engineering 41 degrees awarded
$99,048
Computer Science 65 degrees awarded
$98,277
Chemical Engineering 34 degrees awarded
$96,503

Each bar is a field’s median. Program size counts degrees awarded, not unique people or the earnings sample.

Compare all matching programs
Reported bachelor’s programs · earnings, program size and field ranks
ProgramDegrees awarded4-yr earningsField rank
Mining and Mineral Engineering small degree count17$109,619—
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering50$99,542#103
Industrial Engineering105$99,180#26
Computer Engineering41$99,048#101
Computer Science65$98,277#128
Chemical Engineering34$96,503#84
Management Information Systems and Services50$95,324#20
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering79$94,750#36
Petroleum Engineering64$91,142#16
Mechanical Engineering182$90,461#138
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing223$83,750#202
Civil Engineering96$82,117#115
Mathematics21$77,144—
Finance and Financial Management Services149$76,959#118
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions20$76,662#11
Accounting and Related Services88$76,135#139
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions21$76,034#34
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy26$75,022#1
Business Administration, Management and Operations139$73,646#137
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences167$70,165#8
Marketing136$69,357#101
Hospitality Administration/Management small degree count12$68,473—
Business/Managerial Economics20$68,161—
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences small degree count13$66,798—
Agricultural Business and Management49$66,022#36
Business/Commerce, General101$65,372#43
Public Health51$64,888#44
Forestry small degree count13$64,568—
Security Science and Technology69$62,455#8
Journalism150$58,454#28
Biology, General115$57,486#201
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness200$57,359#79
Geography and Cartography small degree count9$57,075—
Philosophy small degree count11$57,041—
Political Science and Government67$56,969#208
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities150$56,132#63
Design and Applied Arts50$55,669#70
Sociology small degree count15$54,596—
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services73$54,252#111
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other small degree count15$53,836—
Animal Sciences69$52,548#24
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods42$51,537#111
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas54$51,403#93
Psychology, General149$51,263#184
Plant Sciences44$50,249#26
Social Work47$50,130#141
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services32$48,893#57
Music48$48,226#47
History34$45,388#231
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management54$45,348#11
Fine and Studio Arts49$44,180#96
English Language and Literature, General50$41,920#247
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft43$40,942#59
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management20$38,649—
Natural Resources Conservation and Research small degree count19Too few graduates to report—
Communication and Media Studies64Too few graduates to report—
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management small degree count9Too few graduates to report—
Biomedical/Medical Engineering42Too few graduates to report—
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics small degree count9Too few graduates to report—
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology34Too few graduates to report—
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology33Too few graduates to report—
Neurobiology and Neurosciences small degree count16Too few graduates to report—
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology small degree count7Too few graduates to report—
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General191Too few graduates to report—
Sustainability Studies small degree count17Too few graduates to report—
Chemistry25Too few graduates to report—
Physics small degree count13Too few graduates to report—
Criminology152Too few graduates to report—
International Relations and National Security Studies30Too few graduates to report—
Anthropology small degree count13Too few graduates to report—
Health and Medical Administrative Services31Too few graduates to report—
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General small degree count15Too few graduates to report—
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations small degree count13Too few graduates to report—

Program data and definitions · How to evaluate program rankings

What are the largest programs at West Virginia University?

Ten largest programs by degrees awarded
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
223
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
200
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
191
Mechanical Engineering
182
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
167
Criminology
152
Journalism
150
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
150
Psychology, General
149
Finance and Financial Management Services
149

Counts describe degrees awarded in the reporting period, not current enrollment. Program data and definitions

How do West Virginia University majors rank nationally?

National program rankings

  1. Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy#1
  2. Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences#8
  3. Security Science and Technology#8
  4. Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management#11
  5. Dental Support Services and Allied Professions#11
  6. Petroleum Engineering#16
  7. Management Information Systems and Services#20
  8. Animal Sciences#24
  9. Plant Sciences#26
  10. Industrial Engineering#26
  11. Journalism#28
  12. Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions#34
  13. Agricultural Business and Management#36
  14. Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering#36
  15. Business/Commerce, General#43
  16. Public Health#44
  17. Music#47

Programs ranked in the national top 50, supplemented by the largest ranked programs when needed to show ten. Fewer appear when fewer ranks are reported. Each rank compares bachelor’s programs in the same field; field sizes differ.

How Azimuth compares programs across colleges

Further analysis

At West Virginia University, the choice of field matters: 54 programs have published earnings data, and outcomes vary across the catalog. The degree mix is led by Engineering at 16.1% of bachelor's degrees awarded, with Business close behind at 16.0% and Health Professions third at 9.8%.

The largest single program is Nursing, at 223 degrees awarded in a year and median earnings of $83,750 four years after completion; Azimuth ranks it #202 nationally within its field. Industrial Engineering earns $99,180 and ranks #26 nationally, while Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy carries the university's strongest national rank at #1 with earnings of $75,022.

Award counts here are degrees conferred in one academic year, not distinct students, and program earnings cover federally aided completers four years after completion.

Data & methodology

Sources and reporting periods: methodology.

Analysis and methodology by Daniel Rogers, founder of College Azimuth.

Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.

Figure notes link to sources and limitations. About College Azimuth.