Career Training Path › West Virginia › West Virginia University at Parkersburg
West Virginia University at Parkersburg
Parkersburg, West Virginia · Public university · Training programs available:
Address: 300 Campus Drive, Parkersburg, WV 26104 · Phone: (304) 424-8000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
West Virginia University at Parkersburg is a public trade and career school in Parkersburg, WV, offering surgical technologist, welding, and CNC/machining programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and others.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, median graduate debt is $12,570 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $35,171 at West Virginia University at Parkersburg; this campus's completion rate versus the 68.5% state average is not reported.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for West Virginia University at Parkersburg; federal financial aid (Title IV) is accepted, and about 32.8% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surgical technologists | $38,010 | $49,110 | $61,610 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $36,700 | $48,810 | $60,170 |
| Machinists | $37,300 | $47,350 | $59,910 |
| Nursing assistants | $31,060 | $36,720 | $38,410 |
| Electricians | $43,620 | $64,810 | $83,920 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in West Virginia (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 5 | $31,802 | $26,353 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 1–2 years | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
West Virginia University at Parkersburg is a public college located in Parkersburg, WV, in a fringe rural setting. It is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the Higher Learning Commission, and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and federal financial aid (Title IV) can be used here. The campus awards trade and career credentials across six program families, most notably surgical technologist programs (17 completers), welding schools (9), and CNC & machining programs (6).
Federal data show 40 trade completers out of an undergraduate enrollment of 1,868. The school's own completion rate is not reported for this campus in federal data, though the state average completion rate is 68.5%, and how this campus compares to that average is not reported. Median debt for graduates is $12,570, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $35,171. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 32.8% of students receive Pell Grants, suggesting a meaningful share of students come from lower-income backgrounds.
This campus may suit students pursuing hands-on trade credentials such as surgical technology, welding, or CNC machining, though specific program lengths and schedule formats are not reported here, so fit for adult career-changers cannot be confirmed from this data alone. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status, program details, and costs directly with the school by phone or website, and can review official outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
West Virginia University at Parkersburg offers programs including surgical technologist programs, welding schools, CNC & machining programs, cna classes, and electrician schools, totaling six program families. Top programs by completers are surgical technologist (17), welding (9), and CNC/machining (6).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited. Its accreditors include the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the Higher Learning Commission, and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA-based aid including Pell Grants. About 32.8% of students here receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
This campus's specific completion rate is not reported for this campus in federal data. The state average completion rate is 68.5%, but how this school compares to that average is not reported.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt among graduates is $12,570, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $35,171, per the College Scorecard.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school at (304) 424-8000 or visit https://www.wvup.edu/ for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public institution, which often means lower published tuition for state residents and Title IV aid eligibility, as confirmed here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school directly to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation status through the listed accreditors and review official federal outcome data at the College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?237686.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
Program length and schedule details needed to assess fit for adult career-changers are not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school to discuss scheduling options.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing and certification requirements are not reported in this data set. Contact the school at (304) 424-8000 for program-specific licensure information.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach West Virginia University at Parkersburg by phone at (304) 424-8000 or through its website at https://www.wvup.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data against nearby schools is not reported in this data set; use the College Scorecard link to compare outcomes across institutions directly.
Nearby trade and career schools in West Virginia
- Wood County Technical Center-Practical NursingParkersburg, WV · 100% completion
- Mountain State CollegeParkersburg, WV · career college
- Pleasants County Board of EducationSt Marys, WV
- West Virginia Northern Community CollegeNew Martinsville, WV
- Pierpont Community and Technical CollegeFairmont, WV · 42% completion
- New River Community and Technical CollegeBeaver, WV · 36% completion
- James Rumsey Technical InstituteMartinsburg, WV · 77% completion
- Fred W Eberle Technical CenterBuckhannon, WV · 98% completion
See all trade and career schools in West Virginia or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.