West Virginia University

West Virginia University is a public land-grant research university located in Morgantown, West Virginia. Established in 1867, it serves as the flagship institution of the West Virginia University System. The university offers a broad range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, including degrees in engineering, business, health sciences, agriculture, and the liberal arts. WVU also operates additional campuses in Beckley and Keyser, along with a major medical presence in Morgantown and Charleston. As the state’s only R1 research institution, it plays a central role in research and economic development across West Virginia. Students are drawn to WVU for its comprehensive academic offerings, research opportunities, and strong campus community.

West Virginia University was founded in 1867 as the Agricultural College of West Virginia under the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act, reflecting the state’s commitment to accessible higher education after the Civil War. The institution opened in Morgantown on September 2, 1867, and was renamed West Virginia University in 1868 to reflect a broader academic mission. Alexander Martin, a Scottish minister, served as the first president and helped shape the early curriculum and campus. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, West Virginia University expanded its academic programs and constructed key campus buildings such as Woodburn Hall. During the twentieth century, WVU developed professional schools, including medicine and engineering, and grew into a comprehensive research university. Today, West Virginia University is the state’s flagship public institution and a major center for research, healthcare, and higher education in Morgantown and across West Virginia.