BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – West Virginia Wesleyan College was recognized as the No. 2 Best Value School by U.S.  News and World Report – the only regional college in West Virginia to earn a Best Value Ranking in the 2026 Best Colleges publication.

Under the U.S. News and World Report’s rankings, the College was also named a Best Regional College in the South. West Virginia Wesleyan is listed as one of the Top Performers on Social Mobility, which measures how well schools enroll and graduate students who received federal Pell Grants. 

The College, celebrating 135 years of equipping students for the future,  is also one of 98 institutions of higher learning listed in the Princeton Review 2026 Best Colleges, Best in the Mid-Atlantic list.  The Princeton Review recognized 631 colleges for 2026 considered academically outstanding.

Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing John Waltz ‘01 said, “With continued success in enrollment, including a 38% growth in graduate students this year and 100% enrollment in our first LPN to BSN pathway cohort,  it is clear that students and families value a Wesleyan education and recognize it as the premier education in our region.  West Virginia Wesleyan continues to provide critical solutions to our region’s needs, including the recent announcement of a Physician Assistant program.”

In determining Best Value Schools, U.S. News & World Report considered academic quality and cost after accounting for total expenses and financial aid. 

More than 95 percent of WVWC students receive financial aid in the form of scholarships. WVWC awards academic scholarships up to $18,000 per year, which can be combined with co-curricular scholarships (athletics, creative arts, community service), the West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship, and all outside scholarships obtained by incoming students.

West Virginia Wesleyan College will host Fall Open Houses Oct. 25 and Nov. 8, giving prospective students the opportunity to discover how they can find their place at their Home Among the Hill.  For more information, visit www.wvwc.edu.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for  135 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2026 Best Colleges in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2026  Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan second in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and counseling; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.