West Virginia State University: A Haven For Black Students?

West Virginia State University (WVSU) is a public, historically black, land-grant university in Institute, West Virginia. Founded in 1891 as the West Virginia Colored Institute, WVSU is one of the original 19 land-grant colleges and universities established by the second Morrill Act of 1890 to provide for land-grant institutions for Black students in the 17 states that had segregated schools. WVSU has a strong history of and commitment to the education of black Americans. However, following desegregation, WVSU's student population slowly became more white than black. As of 2017, WVSU's student body was 75% white and only 8% African-American. University data from fall 2024 show that white students made up about 72% of the roughly 3,200 enrollees, while Black students composed about 10%.

West Virginia State University is a historically black college

West Virginia State University (WVSU) is a public, historically black, land-grant university in Institute, West Virginia. It was founded in 1891 as the West Virginia Colored Institute under the second Morrill Act, which provided for land-grant institutions for Black students in the 17 states that had segregated schools. The school opened its doors in May 1892 with an enrollment of over 40 students and a faculty consisting of President James Edwin Campbell, Byrd Prillerman, and T.C. Friend. The curriculum consisted of courses in agriculture, horticulture, mechanical arts, and domestic science.

WVSU has a long history of serving the Black community and promoting diversity and inclusiveness. During the administration of African-American educator and statesman Byrd Prillerman from 1893 to 1903, the school established itself as the center of black intellectual life in the state. In 1939, WVSU became the first of six historically black colleges to be authorized by the Civil Aeronautics Authority to establish an aviation program, which prepared many African-American pilots for the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II.

Despite its historical focus on serving the Black community, WVSU's student population slowly became more white than black following desegregation. As of 2017, WVSU's student body was 75% white and only 8% African-American. University data from the fall of 2024 show that this trend has continued, with white students making up about 72% of the roughly 3,200 enrollees, while Black students composed about 10%. This unique position as a historically Black institution with a predominantly white student body has led to some challenges, particularly in light of the state governor's recent executive order against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices.

WVSU has been tasked with reviewing its programs and practices to identify its DEI initiatives, despite not having a specific DEI office or personnel. University leaders have emphasized that diversity is part of the institution's DNA, and it remains committed to serving historically marginalized students. WVSU continues to attract students of all ages and backgrounds, with an age diversity score of 74.88 out of 100 and students from 29 countries represented at the school.

The student population is now predominantly white

West Virginia State University (WVSU) is a public, historically Black, land-grant university in Institute, West Virginia. It was founded in 1891 as the West Virginia Colored Institute, one of the original 19 land-grant colleges and universities established by the second Morrill Act of 1890, which provided for land-grant institutions for Black students in the 17 states that had segregated schools. The school opened its doors in May 1892 with an enrollment of over 40 students and a curriculum that included courses in agriculture, horticulture, mechanical arts, and domestic science.

Following desegregation, WVSU's student population slowly became more white than black. As of 2017, WVSU's student body was 75% white and only 8% African American. University data from the fall of 2024 show that this trend has continued, with white students making up about 72% of the roughly 3,200 enrollees, while Black students composed about 10%. In 2022, the most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at WVSU was white (281 degrees awarded), with 5.3 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American (53 degrees).

WVSU's student population is majority white, which may be due in part to the university's location in Kanawha County, WV, and its proximity to other predominantly white institutions in the state. WVSU is committed to diversity and inclusiveness, and university leaders say that it is part of the institution's DNA. The university has an age diversity score of 74.88 out of 100, indicating that it is doing a good job attracting students of all ages. In addition, students from 29 countries are represented at the school, with the majority of international students coming from Nepal, Mexico, and Brazil.

WVSU has an endowment valued at nearly $11.3 million as of the end of the 2022 fiscal year. The cost of tuition at WVSU for 2022 was $8,856, which is $19,474 less than the overall (public and private) national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,330).

The university is committed to diversity and inclusivity

West Virginia State University (WVSU) is a public, historically Black, land-grant university in Institute, West Virginia. It was founded in 1891 as the West Virginia Colored Institute, one of the original 19 land-grant colleges and universities established by the second Morrill Act of 1890, which provided for land-grant institutions for Black students in the 17 states that had segregated schools. The university is committed to diversity and inclusivity, with a history of serving as the centre of Black intellectual life in the state.

Despite being a historically Black university, WVSU's student population slowly became more white than Black following desegregation. As of 2017, WVSU's student body was 75% white and only 8% African American. University data from the fall of 2024 show that this trend has persisted, with white students making up about 72% of the roughly 3,200 enrollees, while Black students composed about 10%. In 2022, the most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at WVSU was white (281 degrees awarded), with 5.3 times more degrees awarded to white students than the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American (53 degrees).

WVSU has a diverse student body in terms of age, with an age diversity score of 74.88 out of 100. Only about 31.17% of students at WVSU are traditional college-age (between the ages of 18 and 21), compared to the national average of 60%. Additionally, students from 29 countries are represented at the school, with the majority of international students coming from Nepal, Mexico, and Brazil.

WVSU's commitment to diversity and inclusivity is further demonstrated by its financial aid offerings. In 2022, 34% of undergraduate students attending WVSU received financial aid through grants, and 23% received aid through loans. The average net price of attending WVSU in 2022, after factoring in grants and loans, was $11,684, which is significantly lower than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges.

Despite being a historically Black university, WVSU has been tasked with reviewing its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices after the state's governor issued an executive order against DEI. However, university leaders have emphasised that diversity is part of the institution's DNA, and they remain committed to serving historically marginalised students. WVSU does not have a specific DEI office or personnel, but this may work in its favour as it indicates that diversity and inclusiveness are inherent to the university's culture and values.

The school opened in 1892 with over 40 students

West Virginia State University (WVSU) is a public, historically Black university in Institute, West Virginia. The university was founded in 1891 as the West Virginia Colored Institute under the second Morrill Act, which provided for land-grant institutions for Black students in the 17 states that had segregated schools. The school opened its doors in May 1892 with an enrollment of over 40 students. The faculty consisted of President James Edwin Campbell, Byrd Prillerman, and T.C. Friend. The curriculum included courses in agriculture, horticulture, mechanical arts, and domestic science.

The West Virginia Colored Institute was established on land sold by Maria Cabell-Hurt, the daughter of Sam Cabell. Two decades prior, in 1853, Sam Cabell had purchased the property and taken steps to ensure that his wife, Mary, and their children would inherit his wealth and not be sold into slavery. Despite officially emancipating his family in 1858, Sam Cabell was murdered shortly after the American Civil War. In 1891, Maria Cabell-Hurt sold some of the land to the new state to permit the creation of the West Virginia Colored Institute, as her descendants and neighbours had to send their children across the Ohio River to Ohio for higher education.

The original curriculum at the West Virginia Colored Institute consisted of courses in agriculture, horticulture, mechanical arts, and domestic science. Teacher education ("normal") courses were added in 1893, and military education became an integral part of the school as well. In 1899, the West Virginia legislature passed a bill to admit up to 60 cadets. Over time, the school established itself as a centre of Black intellectual life in the state. In 1909, African-American educator and statesman Booker T. Washington recommended his friend, Byrd Prillerman, as the institution's president.

Today, WVSU is a historically Black university with a predominantly white student body. As of fall 2024, university data showed that white students made up about 72% of the roughly 3,200 enrollees, while Black students composed about 10%. This shift in demographics can be attributed to the desegregation of WVSU, which led to a slow change in the racial makeup of the student population. As of 2017, WVSU's student body was 75% white and only 8% African-American. Despite this demographic change, WVSU remains committed to diversity and inclusiveness, seeing it as part of the institution's DNA.

The most common degree awarded is in General Business Administration & Management

West Virginia State University (WVSU) is a public, historically Black university. It was founded in 1891 as the West Virginia Colored Institute, one of the original 19 land-grant colleges established by the second Morrill Act of 1890 to provide for educational institutions for Black students in the 17 states with segregated schools. The school's original curriculum included courses in agriculture, horticulture, mechanical arts, and domestic science.

Over time, WVSU's student population has shifted from predominantly Black to predominantly white. As of 2024, about 72% of the student body was white, while Black students made up about 10%. Despite this demographic shift, WVSU remains committed to diversity and inclusivity, with university leaders stating that it is part of the institution's DNA.

WVSU offers a range of degree programs, including those in business administration and management. While I cannot confirm if this is the most common degree awarded at WVSU, business administration and management is a popular major at several universities in West Virginia. For example, in the most recent year with available data, Marshall University had about 69 graduates with this degree, Fairmont State University had about 103, Wheeling University had about 41, and Shepherd University had about 81.

A degree in business administration and management can lead to a variety of career opportunities and increased earning potential. For example, graduates of Wheeling University's program typically earn around $42,589 at the beginning of their careers, while graduates of Fairmont State University's program earn an average of about $36,267. Additionally, WVSU offers an online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, which is ranked #32 among public Online MBA Programs by U.S. News & World Report. This program is designed to help working professionals balance school, family, and life while advancing their education and career prospects.

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