Head-to-head comparison
University of Charleston vs West Virginia Wesleyan College: which has better ROI?
Option A Charleston, WV
University of Charleston
- Net price / year
- $22,107
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,774
- Payback
- 11.9 yrs
Option B Buckhannon, WV
West Virginia Wesleyan College
- Net price / year
- $18,083
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,593
- Payback
- 22.4 yrs
University of Charleston has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $88,428 in 11.9 years versus 22.4 years at West Virginia Wesleyan College, on median earnings of $55,774 vs $51,593 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Charleston | West Virginia Wesleyan College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,107 | $18,083 |
| Total net cost | $88,428 | $72,332 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,774 | $51,593 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 11.9 yrs | 22.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $59,852 | -$7,672 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Charleston or West Virginia Wesleyan College?
West Virginia Wesleyan College, at $18,083 a year after aid versus $22,107 — a gap of $4,024 a year, or $16,096 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do University of Charleston or West Virginia Wesleyan College graduates earn more?
University of Charleston graduates report a median $55,774 ten years after entry, $4,181 more than the $51,593 at West Virginia Wesleyan College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, University of Charleston or West Virginia Wesleyan College?
University of Charleston: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at West Virginia Wesleyan College, a difference of $7,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at West Virginia Wesleyan College, against 46% at University of Charleston. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.