Admit rate has ranged 68%–78% over the last 5 years — notably volatile, though the latest figure above (63%) falls outside that window. 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.
Wheeling University is a small, private Catholic institution in West Virginia that operates on a vastly different scale and timeline than the national liberal arts colleges it superficially resembles. With an undergraduate enrollment of just over 600 students, it offers an intimate, values-oriented education focused on service and leadership, but its defining characteristic is a profound struggle with student persistence, as evidenced by a strikingly low graduation rate. It's a place where personal attention is guaranteed, but where academic and financial outcomes demand careful scrutiny.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Considered (not required)
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
589
In-state tuition
$29,875
Out-of-state tuition
$29,875
Popular Majors
Business, Kinesiology, Rehabilitation
Graduation Rate
23%
Student-Faculty Ratio
13:1
Median Earnings (10yr)
$57,949
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$57,949
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.8×
Median debt at graduation
$25,125
Graduation rate
23%
First-year retention
54%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
64%
Pell (lower-income) share
32%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
37%
Financial health
0.6 / 3.0Below the federal standard — financial stress
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$59,999
Accounting and Related Services$37,568
Business Administration, Management and Operations$31,133
Education, General$26,353
Psychology, General$21,964
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.
Compare on earnings:
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
1
Per 1,000 students
1.34
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.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
93
Summer high
82°F
Winter low
27°F
Annual rain
47.5"
Annual snow
19.9"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
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.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Wheeling University?
Wheeling University's acceptance rate is approximately 63% (Wheeling, WV), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Wheeling University cost?
At Wheeling University, the average net price (after aid) is about $20,503 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Wheeling University?
Wheeling University enrolls approximately 589 undergraduate students.
Where is Wheeling University located?
Wheeling University is located in Wheeling, WV.
Admissions
Wheeling University is an accessible institution with a moderately selective admissions process. The undergraduate is 63%. For the class entering in 2024, the university received 2,796 applications and admitted 1,766 students, with 619 ultimately enrolling. This translates to a rate (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) of approximately 35%. The admissions process does not appear to have a binding Early Decision program; the available data and sources discuss Regular Decision, for which the acceptance rate was 75% with 2,103 applicants and 1,581 admitted for a recent cycle. The middle 50% SAT score range for admitted students is between 950 and 1180 (or 910–1130 according to another source), and the comparable ACT range is 18 to 23. The university's application priorities, including the importance of demonstrated interest, are not detailed in the provided sources, which are generic pages about the CDS format rather than Wheeling's specific data.
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.
Academic life at Wheeling is defined by its small scale and a practical, career-oriented curriculum. The university offers 24 majors with a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1 or 14:1, ensuring small class sizes. The most popular programs are in business, health, and criminal justice. The top majors by popularity are:
Business Administration and Management, General
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (noted as one of its known top majors)
Other significant majors include Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (5% of degrees), Accounting (4%), and Biology/Biological Sciences, General (4%). The institution's Catholic, Jesuit heritage emphasizes a holistic education intended to help students "recognize the interrelationships of life" and "assume an active, productive and meaningful role in a free and changing society."
With a total undergraduate enrollment of 619 students as of fall 2024, Wheeling is a microcosm of a campus community. The student body has a gender distribution of 58% male and 42% female. The campus culture is shaped by its Catholic identity, with an emphasis on "social justice, service learning, and personal" development. According to student surveys, 23% of students say the student body is very diverse in race, ethnicity, and cultural background. Life outside the classroom is oriented around "leadership and service activities that emphasize values, discipline," and community engagement. The small size is evident in events like new student orientation, which recently welcomed about 50 new students to campus. This creates an environment where everyone knows everyone, for better or worse.
Student outcomes at Wheeling University present a complex and challenging picture, marked by significant attrition but potentially solid earnings for those who persist. The graduation rate is a critical point of concern. Sources report varying figures: 23%, 32%, 44%, and 53%. The four-year graduation rate is reported to be as low as 1%. Male students graduate at an even lower rate, cited as 20%. For those who do graduate, median earnings six years after entry are $48,482. Other data points show average earnings rising over time: $38,100 after 6 years, $40,800 after 7 years, $45,000 after 8 years, and $46,100 after 9 years. The typical monthly loan payment for federal loan recipients is $266, with an 8% default rate.
The stated annual at Wheeling University is $44,610, with tuition and fees comprising $31,090 of that total. However, the —the average cost after grants and scholarships are applied—is significantly lower. The average net price is reported as $19,164, $19,520, or $19,998 depending on the source. The average financial aid package for undergraduates is $23,568, with scholarships and grants averaging $12,850 for all undergraduates and $18,916 on average. Financial aid applications are due June 30. The university offers institutional scholarship applications through its financial aid office. There is no indication in the provided sources that Wheeling University has a policy of meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need or a "no-loan" policy where loans are replaced with grants.
Wheeling University stands out not for prestige or selectivity, but as a stark case study in the challenges facing small, tuition-dependent private colleges in rural America. Its defining feature is the profound disconnect between its accessible admissions (63% ) and its severe struggle with student retention (graduation rates as low as 23%). This creates an environment of intense intimacy—with only about 600 undergraduates and a 13:1 student-faculty ratio—but also one where the path to a degree is statistically fraught. It is a values-driven, service-oriented Catholic campus where students can expect personal attention and a focus on practical majors like business, kinesiology, and therapeutic professions. However, its identity is inextricably linked to its outcomes: it is a university that admits a broad swath of students but graduates a much smaller fraction, making it a compelling choice only for those who are highly self-motivated, financially cautious, and seeking a tight-knit, values-based community above all else.
Wheeling University seal · sourceWheeling University - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges · sourceWheeling University | Athleticademix · sourceWheeling University - Wikipedia · source
