Mahadev Maitri Foundation
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Program Rankings · West Virginia

Best Natural Resources & Conservation Colleges in West Virginia

Ranked by a weighted composite of outcomes, affordability, selectivity, academic profile, and program depth. Based on NCES IPEDS 2023–24 completions data.

8
Colleges Ranked
8
4-Year Programs
5
Public Colleges
Bethany College
Top Ranked
Ranking Methodology: Each college earns a major score = 70% global composite score (outcomes 30%, affordability 25%, selectivity 20%, academic 15%, breadth 10%) + 30% program depth score (graduates in this major ÷ total enrollment, normalized across all US colleges).
1
51
Bethany College
Bethany · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
60% accept46% grad rate6 graduates/yr
#1705 nationally
2
51
Potomac State College of West Virginia University
Keyser · Public · 4-year
$5,040 in-state15 graduates/yr
#1944 nationally
3
49
Glenville State University
Glenville · Public · 4-year
39% grad rate$8,352 in-state36 graduates/yr
#2934 nationally
#4
49
West Virginia University
Morgantown · Public · 4-year
86% accept60% grad rate$9,648 in-state348 graduates/yr
#2738 nationally
#5
48
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Buckhannon · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
95% accept49% grad rate9 graduates/yr
#3128 nationally
#6
46
Marshall University
Huntington · Public · 4-year
96% accept49% grad rate$7,372 in-state36 graduates/yr
#3598 nationally
#7
45
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown · Public · 4-year
96% accept49% grad rate$6,288 in-state48 graduates/yr
#3698 nationally
#8
42
Davis & Elkins College
Elkins · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
58% accept36% grad rate6 graduates/yr
#3999 nationally
About Natural Resources & Conservation Programs in West Virginia

West Virginia offers 8 accredited natural resources & conservation programs across public and private institutions. Our rankings use NCES IPEDS 2023–24 completions data to measure how many graduates each college produces in this field relative to its total enrollment, combined with overall college quality metrics.

The ranking formula weights overall college quality at 70% — covering graduation outcomes, net price affordability, admissions selectivity, and academic profile of enrolled students — and program-specific depth at 30%, rewarding schools that genuinely specialize in natural resources & conservation.

For in-state students, public colleges often offer significantly lower costs. Complete the FAFSA to determine need-based aid eligibility regardless of your income level. Aid availability can dramatically change the actual cost of attendance.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Based on our composite ranking — which weighs outcomes (graduation rates), affordability (net price), selectivity, academic profile, and program depth — the top-ranked college for Natural Resources & Conservation in West Virginia is Bethany College. We rank all accredited institutions offering this program using NCES IPEDS 2023–24 data.