Charleston University: Student Population In West Virginia

The University of Charleston, West Virginia, is a private university with a main campus in Charleston and another location in Beckley, West Virginia, known as UC-Beckley. Founded in 1888, the university has a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,735 students. The university offers over twenty undergraduate major programs, including business, communications, education, nursing, and digital media design. The University of Charleston's ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #392-434.

University of Charleston's student enrollment

The University of Charleston (UC) is a private, nonprofit baccalaureate college in Charleston, West Virginia. It was founded in 1888 as the Barboursville Seminary of the Southern Methodist Church and became the University of Charleston in 1978.

UC's main campus is in Charleston, but it also has locations in Beckley and Martinsburg, West Virginia. The university offers over twenty undergraduate major programs, including business, communications, education, nursing, and digital media design. In addition, UC offers several graduate programs, including a School of Business that grants four master's degrees in business and a School of Leadership that offers an online doctoral program.

UC's athletic teams are known as the Golden Eagles, and they compete in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) in NCAA Division II. The men's volleyball team plays at the National Collegiate (Division I/II) level.

Regarding student enrollment, the University of Charleston had an undergraduate enrollment of 7,735 students in private colleges and universities near Charleston, West Virginia, as of 2023. This makes it the largest traditional private post-secondary institution in the state, with Wheeling University coming in second with an enrollment of 1,549 students.

In 2023, a total of 3,197 degrees were completed at private colleges and universities near Charleston, including 2,837 that were offered online. UC offers a variety of campus housing options, including apartments for married and single students and special housing for disabled students.

University of Charleston's ranking

The University of Charleston (UC) is a private university located in Charleston, West Virginia, with additional campuses in Beckley and Martinsburg, West Virginia. The university has a strong reputation and has received recognition for its academic excellence and student satisfaction.

In the 2025 edition of Best Colleges, UC is ranked #392-434 out of 436 National Universities. The ranking is based on a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence, including graduation rates, retention rates, social mobility, faculty resources, and financial resources. UC's ranking reflects its performance in these areas relative to other universities across the nation.

UC has also been recognised in other rankings. It was named one of the "Best Southeastern" colleges in the US by The Princeton Review in its "2023 Best Colleges: Region by Region" issue. This recognition highlights UC as an "academically outstanding and well worth consideration" institution in the southeastern region. Additionally, UC was named "Best Traditional" and "Best Business School" by College Consensus, which combines respected college ranking systems with thousands of real student reviews to create a unique college meta-ranking.

The university offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including business, communications, education, nursing, exercise science, and digital media design. It also has a strong athletic presence, with teams known as the Golden Eagles competing in 18 Division II sports. UC's athletic achievements include a Division II national championship in men's soccer in 2017.

UC's main campus in Charleston provides a sense of community and engagement, with small campus and class sizes that enhance the overall student experience. The university is committed to supporting its students and offers various resources, including financial aid and scholarships, to ensure their success.

University of Charleston's history

The University of Charleston (UC) is a private university located in Charleston, West Virginia. It was founded in 1888 as the Barboursville Seminary of the Southern Methodist Church. In 1901, it was renamed Morris Harvey College in honour of a devoted supporter.

In 1935, the school moved to downtown Charleston and established an affiliation with the Mason College of Fine Arts and Music. The school became independent of the Methodist Church in 1940 and moved to its current campus in the Kanawha City section of Charleston in 1947. The college purchased the Young-Noyes House in 1951 as the residence of the college president, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

The Vietnam War had a significant impact on the college, and it struggled financially after the end of the military draft and college deferment. In 1975, the college offered itself to the state, but the offer was refused. As a result, in December 1978, the school changed its name to the University of Charleston.

The appointment of President Dr. Edwin H. Welch in 1989 marked the beginning of a significant transformation for the university. Under his leadership, the university underwent extensive physical and academic developments, including the construction of new residence halls, academic buildings, and athletic facilities.

Today, the University of Charleston offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programmes, with over twenty undergraduate major programs. It has also established itself as a competitive athletic institution, with its teams, the Golden Eagles, excelling in various sports and achieving national recognition.

University of Charleston's campus locations

The University of Charleston (UC) is a private university with its main campus in Charleston, West Virginia. The university was founded in 1888 as the Barboursville Seminary of the Southern Methodist Church and has been located in Charleston since 1935. The main campus moved to its current location in the Kanawha City section of Charleston in 1947.

In addition to its main campus, the University of Charleston has two other locations in West Virginia: Beckley and Martinsburg. The Beckley campus was established in 2013 on the former campus of Mountain State University and is known as UC-Beckley. The Martinsburg campus was also established in 2013 on the former campus of Mountain State University, but UC later vacated this property and established a new location in the city, known as UC-Martinsburg.

The University of Charleston offers a range of academic programs, including over twenty undergraduate major programs and several doctoral programs. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

University of Charleston's academic programs

The University of Charleston, West Virginia, offers a wide range of academic programs for its students. The university is divided into several schools, each with its own areas of specialisation.

The School of Arts and Sciences is the largest college at the University of Charleston. It offers innovative, interdisciplinary programs with a focus on providing a well-rounded education. Students can pursue a variety of majors, including professional writing, biology with multiple concentrations, digital media design, elementary education, applied computer science, and political science. The School of Arts and Sciences provides a foundation for critical thinking, creativity, and interdisciplinary studies, empowering students to follow their passions and dreams.

The School of Health Sciences prepares students for careers in the healthcare industry. It offers a comprehensive range of programs, from associate degree programs to a Master's-level Physician Assistant Program. The School of Health Sciences equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become ethical, competent, safe, and compassionate healthcare professionals. With the growing demand for healthcare workers, UC-Beckley also provides an accelerated pathway to join the healthcare field in approximately two years.

The School of Business is dedicated to fostering future business leaders. It provides students with the knowledge and skills required to succeed in the dynamic business landscape. The School of Business offers a variety of career-ready undergraduate programs and graduate programs. The school has earned specialised business accreditations from the Accreditation Council of Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Its graduate business school grants four types of business master's degrees: Master of Business Administration and Leadership (MBAL), Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA), Executive Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Management (EMBA-PHM), and Executive Master of Forensic Accounting (EMFA).

The School of Leadership at the University of Charleston focuses on developing leadership skills that are applicable across various career paths. Students are taught to think creatively, assess challenges, foster innovation, and motivate people. The school offers a Doctor of Executive Leadership (DEL) program, which can be pursued online, providing flexibility for working professionals.

Additionally, the University of Charleston provides undergraduate programs, interdisciplinary minors, accelerated programs, and certificate programs. With a commitment to academic excellence, the university empowers students to explore their interests, gain valuable skills, and prepare for their future careers.

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