Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Glenville State University
Bachelor's Degree
glenville.eduAnalysis
A $24,636 starting salary lands Glenville State's Liberal Arts program in the bottom 5% nationally—and even among West Virginia's 19 schools offering this degree, it ranks in just the 25th percentile. That means other in-state options like West Liberty ($37,379) or WV State ($41,319) deliver 50-70% higher starting earnings with similar debt loads. The 8% earnings bump to $26,663 by year four barely moves the needle when you're starting this far behind.
The debt burden itself isn't unusual at $28,799, sitting near both state and national medians. The problem is the earnings side of the equation: graduates are taking on typical debt for outcomes that rank among the weakest available. With 42% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are already financially stretched, making a debt-to-earnings ratio above 1.0 particularly risky.
The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift, but the ranking against 19 other West Virginia programs provides meaningful context regardless. If your child is set on a liberal arts degree in West Virginia, this data suggests exploring other state schools first—the earnings gap is too substantial to ignore, especially when debt levels are comparable.
Where Glenville State University Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities bachelors's programs nationally
Earnings Distribution
How Glenville State University graduates compare to all programs nationally
Earnings Over Time
How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation
| School | 1 Year | 4 Years | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenville State University | $24,636 | $26,663 | +8% |
| Shepherd University | $33,587 | $46,744 | +39% |
| Potomac State College of West Virginia University | $34,883 | $44,412 | +27% |
| West Virginia University Institute of Technology | $34,883 | $44,412 | +27% |
| West Virginia University | $34,883 | $44,412 | +27% |
Compare to Similar Programs in West Virginia
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities bachelors's programs at peer institutions in West Virginia (19 total in state)
Scroll to see more →
| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Glenville State UniversityGlenville | $9,412 | $24,636 | $26,663 | $28,799 | 1.17 |
 American Public University SystemCharles Town | $8,400 | $62,059 | — | $6,265 | 0.10 |
 West Virginia State UniversityInstitute | $9,049 | $41,319 | $39,069 | $31,125 | 0.75 |
 West Liberty UniversityWest Liberty | $8,732 | $37,379 | $38,275 | $31,000 | 0.83 |
 West Virginia University Institute of TechnologyBeckley | $8,064 | $34,883 | $44,412 | $25,000 | 0.72 |
 Potomac State College of West Virginia UniversityKeyser | $5,040 | $34,883 | $44,412 | $25,000 | 0.72 |
| National Median | — | $36,340 | — | $27,000 | 0.74 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities graduates
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Glenville State University, approximately 42% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Sample Size: Based on 20 graduates with reported earnings and 26 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.