Accredited Online Colleges in West Virginia (WV)

West Virginia is full of natural beauty, from the heights of the Appalachian Mountains to the depths of its vast system of caves. Aside from having a wealth of opportunities for outdoor activities which add to West Virginia's quality of life, the state is also an excellent to go to college and launch a career. At 9.1 percent in March 2011, West Virginia's unemployment rate is close to the national average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The cost of living here, however, is 6.5 percent below the national average, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research's 2009 ACCRA Cost of Living Index, meaning your hard-earned money will go further in West Virginia than many other states.

Some of the best areas for jobs in West Virginia include Charleston (the state capital and largest city), Huntington, Parkersburg, and Wheeling. Both Charleston and Huntington are listed among Forbes' Best Places for Business and Careers. If you're looking for a great smaller city to work in, Morgantown was ranked among Forbes' best small cities in the nation to conduct business in 2010. In Charleston, natural gas is an important industry; the downtown area continues to experience revitalization to give it more personality and pizzazz. The many medical center and hospitals in the Huntington area contribute to a vibrant health care industry.

Historically, the two most important industries in West Virginia have been coal mining and logging, and the state also has stores of natural gas and oil, contributing to the energy sector. However, the economy has become more diversified in recent years. Tech firms have begun popping up in West Virginia, with many being noted for high growth, according to Create West Virginia. Other diverse industries include aerospace, biometrics, research, advanced energy, business services, chemicals and plastics, according to the West Virginia Department of Commerce. To prepare for these new-growth industries, students are encouraged to gain a higher education in an area of science, mathematics, engineering or information technology.

West Virginia's higher education system consists of more than 30 institutions, including public and private comprehensive four-year colleges, community colleges, technical colleges and religious colleges. Some of the biggest and most lauded schools in the state include West Virginia University, a public research university in Morgantown with multiple campuses, and Marshall University, a public research university in Huntington. WVU attracts some of the region's brightest high school seniors and offers a whopping 193 degree programs. Marshall University also draws numerous students, as it had a 2009 enrollment of 13,435. It is well-known for its athletics, and draws in significant numbers of out-of-state and international students.