West Virginia University is the state's flagship land-grant research university, in Morgantown, 75 miles south of Pittsburgh. It is best known for engineering, energy and mining research, forensic science, business, medicine and pharmacy, with a large campus linked by a driverless personal rapid transit system. Choose it for an engineering or health degree at moderate cost in a lively college town.
Morgantown, United States
Official website: wvu.edu
#1001
R1 — very high research activity
One of the first and largest forensic science programmes in the US
Around 24,000 students on the Morgantown campus
$26,000 – $30,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$12,000 – $15,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on wvu.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Electrical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MBA (Chambers College of Business)
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Business Data Analytics
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BS Forensic and Investigative Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering — strong in energy, mining and petroleum engineering.
Forensic science — a pioneering programme with its own crime-scene training complex.
PRT — a driverless personal rapid transit system linking the three campuses since 1975.
Mountaineers — a big sports culture in a hilly Appalachian college town.
Graduates join Northrop Grumman, Leidos, FBI's CJIS centre in Clarksburg, WVU Medicine and Pittsburgh's employers.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Engineering bachelor's graduates report median starting salaries around USD 65,000-75,000.
Forensic science alumni work in crime labs and federal agencies across the US.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The university spreads across three campuses in Morgantown, with the historic Downtown Campus beside the Monongahela River, the Evansdale Campus for engineering and the Health Sciences Campus, all linked by the PRT.
Morgantown is a hilly college town of about 30,000 people with low rent, a river trail and outdoor recreation nearby. Pittsburgh is 75 minutes away, and Washington, DC about three and a half hours.
Form I-20 issued by WVU
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate admission is rolling, with a 15 January 2027 priority date for fall 2027 scholarships; international applicants should apply by June to leave time for the visa. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most engineering master's closing between 1 February and 1 June for fall.
Undergraduates can start in fall (August), spring (January) or summer (May). Most engineering and computer science master's programmes admit for both fall and spring, while the one-year MBA and business data analytics master's are fall only. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. The Office of Global Affairs issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, electrical engineering, petroleum and natural gas engineering, the MBA and business data analytics attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 79-80 or IELTS 6.5, and the GRE or GMAT for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is based mainly on grades.
Yes. International undergraduates are automatically considered for merit scholarships based on their grades when they apply by the priority date; need-based aid is not available. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships, which are common in engineering and the sciences and usually include a tuition waiver.
