Although it is often seen as a somewhat backward state, West Virginia is actually home to a number of strong educational institutions that provide students with a rigorous education. Of these, some of the strongest are those known as liberal arts colleges, which provide students with individualized instruction and a curriculum that seeks to develop life-long learners and scholars. The following are four of the strongest liberal arts colleges in West Virginia.
Bethany College
Located in the hills of northern West Virginia and conveniently close to the city of Pittsburgh, Bethany College was founded in 1840 and offers students the opportunity to study one of over 25 majors. They have a particularly strong focus on leadership, and they have options for pre-professional education in such areas as dentistry, engineering, medicine, and several others. As part of their mission they seek to encourage students to think and write and to be engaged citizens of the world. If you are looking for a school that offers rigorous academics with a world mission, Bethany College is the ideal choice.
West Virginia Wesleyan
Founded in 1890, West Virginia Wesleyan currently offers 43 majors and 36 minors, as well as a number of international, internship, and research opportunities. Their general program has a strong foundation in the liberal arts, and they were recently named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll With Distinction. They have also received numerous other accolades and mentions in various college ranking services, including The Princeton Review’s Best Colleges in the Southeast. West Virginia Wesleyan is the ideal choice if you’re looking for a school that offers a strong foundation in the liberal arts and has the academic credentials that ensure a strong future.
Alderson Broaddus College
Located in the quaint and beautiful Philippi, West Virginia, Alderson Broaddus College offers students the opportunity to pursue a liberal arts education in a faith-based environment, as they are affiliated with the American Baptist Churches and the West Virginia Baptist Convention. Although they are strongest in the health-related and professional fields, they offer a number of majors across the spectrum, ranging from Communications to Chemistry and from English to History.
Davis and Elkins College
Located in the city of Elkins (approximately 2 hours east of the state capital,) Davis and Elkins College offers its students individual attention, a rigorous curriculum, and a number of real-life experiences. They offer over 30 majors, including the traditional arts and sciences programs, as well as a number of professional ones. The class size at Davis and Elkins tends to be very small, so students have the opportunity to both interact with their faculty and with one another, leading to beneficial professional relationships.
If you’re looking for the best of a liberal arts education coupled with the powerful and natural scenic beauty of the Mountain State, then any of these liberal arts colleges in West Virginia could be a good fit for you. Here you’ll find the best of all possible worlds, and your degree from these schools will be sure to lead you on the path to success.
