
Athens, WVpublicconcord.edu
Admit rate has ranged 82%–96% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Concord University, nestled in the Appalachian foothills of West Virginia, is a public liberal arts institution with a 92.6% acceptance rate and a reputation for accessibility. Known as 'The Campus Beautiful' for its scenic 125-acre grounds, it offers low-cost education with an average net price of $10,630, though its 42% graduation rate reflects academic challenges. The school leans heavily toward general studies and business majors, with over half of graduates staying in-state for work.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Outcomes & value
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Concord University is decidedly non-selective, with a 92.6% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants.—admitting 2,390 of 2,582 applicants in a recent cycle. The school describes itself as 'nearly open admissions,' with first-year applicants typically needing only a 2.0 GPA for acceptance. Mid-50% SAT scores range from 890–1070 (or 15–22 ACT), though only 21% of admitted students submit ACT scores. Notably, the university employs minimal selectivity for out-of-state applicants and certain programs, but most thresholds are low.
Concord’s academic offerings skew heavily toward , which together account for over half of all degrees awarded. The most popular majors include:
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
The College of Science, Mathematics, and Health offers programs like Hospitality & Tourism Management, but rigor is frequently questioned—one Reddit review bluntly states, 'the academics are not rigorous.' Faculty are described as 'friendly and knowledgeable,' though the 6-year graduation rate of 41–42% (below the national average) suggests academic support may be uneven.
Dorm life centers on the newly renovated housing showcased in TikTok tours, though only 46% of students live on campus. The 125-acre 'Campus Beautiful' earns its name with Appalachian views and Georgian architecture. Student organizations—from academic clubs to Greek life—provide outlets at this commuter-heavy school, where over half of students live off-campus. The vibe is quiet and community-focused, with niche reviews highlighting safety but noting limited nightlife.
Graduation rates are a notable weak spot: just 41–42% of students finish within 6 years (bottom 25% nationally). Of those who graduate, 53–63% remain in West Virginia, earning a median $36,427 one year post-graduation—below the national average. The data paints a picture of a regional workforce feeder, with limited upward mobility for many graduates.
Concord’s affordability is its strongest selling point. The average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. is $10,630 after aid, with 75.6% of students receiving financial aid (average package: $12,468). Merit scholarships are tiered by GPA:
Even full-time tuition is just $8,464 after grants—a bargain for a four-year degree, albeit one with mixed outcomes.
Concord is unapologetically regional, offering a low-stakes, low-cost education for West Virginians content to stay local. Its scenic campus and generous aid make it a practical choice for students with modest academic records, though its low graduation rates signal the trade-offs. If you’re seeking an undemanding path to a degree—and don’t mind大概率 staying in Appalachia—it delivers. But ambitious students may find its ceilings too low.