West Virginia University Parkersburg

About WVU Parkersburg: Your Community's College

About WVU Parkersburg. West Virginia University at Parkersburg is a community and technical college offering a blend of certificate and associate programs as well as select bachelor's degrees. Approximately 4,300 students attend WVU Parkersburg which is an affiliated institution with West Virginia University.

WVU Parkersburg is the largest community college in West Virginia. It is one of 34 public institutions in the United States classified as a Baccalaureate/Associate's College by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. It is the fifth largest public institution of higher education in West Virginia. The Parkersburg campus is the only public community college in West Virginia accredited to offer baccalaureate degrees.

Location. The college is located on the outskirts of Parkersburg and is easily accessible from I-77. It is a commuter campus and has no residential housing. Bus service is provided by the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority and the Easy Rider Bus System.

Accreditation. WVU Parkersburg is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

College History. The College was founded in 1961 as the Parkersburg Branch of West Virginia University (for history of college bell, click here.). On July 1, 1971, it became Parkersburg Community College, one of the state’s first comprehensive community colleges. In a reorganization of West Virginia’s public higher education system in 1989, the institution became West Virginia University at Parkersburg, a regional campus of WVU. In 2008 the WV Legislature changed WVU Parkersburg's governance structure and relationship to WVU in creating a state network of community and technical colleges.

Governance. The WV Higher Education Policy Commission is responsible for developing, establishing, and overseeing the implementation of a public policy agenda for the state's higher education institutions. The Commission is charged with oversight of the state's public higher education institutions, including WVU Parkersburg, to ensure they are accomplishing their missions and implementing the provisions set by West Virginia statute.

WVU Parkersburg is under the jurisdiction of the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education, and is part of a statewide network of independently accredited community and technical colleges. WVU Parkersburg is governed locally by the WVU Parkersburg Board of Governors.

WVU Parkersburg Typical Class Size. Student-Faculty Ratio: 19:1.

Program Offerings. WVU Parkersburg's programs include certificates, associate and selected baccalaureate degree programs.

Service Area. The institution's primary service area consists of seven counties in west-central West Virginia: Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt, and Wood. The main campus on Route 47 east of Parkersburg was first occupied in 1969 and has undergone several building expansions since that time. In addition, the Jackson County Center in Ripley was established in 1974. More than 700 students attend JCC each semester.