Location: Morgantown, WV•In-State Tuition: $9,648•Out-of-State Tuition: $27,360•Admission Rate: 86%•Avg SAT: 1129
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$35,272
Est. from WV median (4 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$11,000
Est. from national median (103 programs)

Analysis

Business programs across West Virginia show a surprising spread, with comparable programs producing first-year earnings ranging from $25,000 to over $44,000. WVU's estimated $35,000 sits right at the state median, suggesting a middle-of-the-road outcome for an institution that's West Virginia's flagship university. The estimated $11,000 in debt is notably lower than both the state median ($15,500) and national median ($13,437), yielding a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31—meaning graduates would owe roughly four months' salary.

The challenge is that these are estimates derived from peer programs rather than actual outcomes for WVU's associate business students specifically. Given that other West Virginia schools report wildly different results for similar credentials, the actual performance could vary substantially. What we do know is that nationally, business associate degrees typically produce $36,591 in first year earnings, suggesting the state estimate is reasonable but not exceptional.

For parents, the lighter debt load is the clearest advantage here. If the earnings estimate holds true, a business associate from WVU offers a practical entry into the workforce without the burden that many community college business programs carry. However, before committing, ask the financial aid office if they can provide any actual graduate outcome data for this specific program, even if it couldn't be published due to small sample sizes.

Where West Virginia University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/commerce associates's programs nationally

West Virginia University (estimated ±10%)Other business/commerce programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in West Virginia

Business/Commerce associates's programs at peer institutions in West Virginia (13 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
West Virginia UniversityMorgantown$9,648$35,272*—$11,000*—
Strayer University-West VirginiaScott Depot$13,920$44,154*$47,516$32,810*0.74
American Public University SystemCharles Town$8,400$44,027*$49,980$21,427*0.49
Pierpont Community and Technical CollegeFairmont$5,594$26,517*$26,471$15,500*0.58
West Virginia Junior College-MorgantownMorgantown$14,313$25,241*—$12,023*0.48
National Median—$36,591*—$13,437*0.37
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/commerce graduates

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Production Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Quality Control Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geothermal Production Managers

Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels Production Managers

Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biomass Power Plant Managers

Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Hydroelectric Production Managers

Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Construction Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

$106,980/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
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 West Virginia University, approximately 20% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 4 similar programs in WV. Actual outcomes may vary.