West Virginia

West Virginia, also known as the Mountain State, is a hidden gem nestled in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. With its stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage, this state offers a captivating experience for both residents and visitors alike.

When it comes to academic pursuits, West Virginia is home to reputable educational institutions that provide students with a solid foundation for their future careers. Sometimes, students may find themselves overwhelmed with assignments and deadlines. In such cases, considering the option to buy essays can be a valuable solution.

Moreover, West Virginia's natural beauty provides an inspiring backdrop for academic pursuits. From breathtaking hiking trails to scenic lakes and rivers, the state offers numerous opportunities for students to find inspiration and foster creativity. By availing themselves of essay writing services, students can strike a balance between their academic responsibilities and enjoying the wonders of West Virginia.

Overview

The legislature has enacted policies that studied the magnitude of the college completion challenge, held institutions accountable for results, and clarified the powers of the state coordinating board. Policymakers should develop a statewide strategy that coordinates these enactments and develops metrics to measure progress.

Given both the educational and economic challenges facing the state, lawmakers should explore policies that will more effectively leverage state resources to create an education pipeline that produces highly-skilled graduates, with credentials that have value in the marketplace.

Data

How does West Virginia rank compared to the national average?

Adults 25-64 with college degrees: 50th (26.4% vs. 38%)
High school graduates going directly to college: 37th (59% vs. 63.3%)
18-24 year-olds enrolled in college: 5th (40.8% vs. 36.2%)
Undergraduate awards per 100 FTE undergraduates: 43rd (17% vs. 19%)
STEM credentials awarded per 1,000 STEM employees: 9th (76.8% vs. 54.4%)
Workers with college degrees earning low wages: 36th (26.2% vs. 22.9%)

For more information, please see the following documents:

West Virginia Data Profile

West Virginia Data PowerPoint

The college attainment rate in West Virginia is the lowest in the United States, due in large part to low rates of college retention and completion. Wages for college-educated workers are below the national average. The relative low supply of jobs in high-tech and scientific fields might also discourage skilled workers from staying in West Virginia. Despite high enrollment rates for both young and middle-aged adults, retention rates for all students could be improved.

A statewide completion and workforce strategy could leverage high college participation rates to meet the needs of West Virginia’s growth industries. In a time of limited state resources, investing in credentials and programs of study that fully leverage the efficiencies in the state economy could dramatically improve the relationship between degrees and median wages.

Policies

Boosting College Completion has produced a comprehensive 50-state legislative database related to college completion and workforce development. The database will grow as we continue to collect and analyze policies.

Highlights of West Virginia’s policies:

Data Collection & Institutional Governance in West Virginia – S.B. 375 (2011)
Establishing the Learn and Earn Cooperative Education Program – S.B. 538 (2011)
Revising Early Enrollment Guidelines – Administrative Rule 133-19 (2010)
Concerning State Master Plan & Postsecondary Accountability – Administrative Rules 133-49 & 135-49 (2009)

Check out the BCC database for a more complete summary of West Virginia’s policies. Click on the Menu arrow for additional options, such as printing the summary.

Analysis

Boosting College Completion has developed a policy profile for West Virginia based on an analysis of data and policies related to college completion and workforce development.

West Virginia Policy Profile

In the last five years, the West Virginia Legislature has enacted policies that studied the magnitude of the college completion challenge, held institutions accountable for results, revised guidelines and clarified the powers of the state coordinating board. While it may be early to fully assess the impact of these policy changes, the legislature should develop a statewide strategy that coordinates these enactments and develops metrics to measure progress.In addition, the state should push new and emerging program models that have the potential to significantly increase college completion.

While West Virginia’s college attainment rate is the lowest in the United States, degree completion among young adults is substantially higher than for workers over 35. Still, the low density of high-wage jobs and the proximity to major population centers increases the likelihood that talented young adults will leave. According to the West Virginia Bureau of Business and Economic Research, construction and manufacturing industries will “expand modestly during the forecast, [while] most job growth is expected in the service-providing industries, particularly health care.” The aging population and the state’s expanding Medicare and Medicaid obligations make attracting and retaining health care practitioners a priority.

Given both the educational and economic challenges facing the state, lawmakers should explore policies that will more effectively leverage state resources to create an education pipeline that produces highly-skilled graduates, with credentials that have value in the marketplace. To achieve this ambitious state goal, state policymakers might:

Evaluate whether current state and institutional strategies promote on-time graduation, reduce student debt and encourage enrollees to complete degrees in high-demand fields
Partner with higher education leaders to evaluate the impact of strategies focused on developmental education and academic transfer on college completion and time-to-degree
Study the impact of career pathway programs and whether targeted investments would improve the advancement of low-income workers into middle-skill jobs through structured, accelerated certificate and associate degree programs
Leverage education and workforce data to find out what college graduates are earning, the fields they are employed in and the value of their degrees to the workforce
Develop a two-tier approach to postsecondary productivity that meets continued demand for associate degrees while working with the private sector to align bachelor’s and graduate degree programs with available jobs.

News & Updates

Policy Leaders

Sen. Robert H. Plymale, Chair, Education Committee

Rep. Mary M. Poling, Chair, Education Committee

Rep. Walter E. Duke, Minority Chair, Education Committee

Initiatives

West Virginia is participating in the following national initiatives that are related to college completion and workforce development:

Common Core Standards Initiative

Complete College America (CCA)

Complete College America Innovation Challenge Grant

SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium

Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Program (TAACCCT)

Resources

The following resources were produced by Boosting College Completion, state agencies and postsecondary systems.