West Virginia University is a comprehensive, public, land-grant research institution based in Morgantown, West Virginia.
A mix of historic and modern facilities, WVU maintains two campuses in Morgantown. The 541-acre main campus lies 75 miles south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and 200 miles west of Baltimore, Maryland. Including residence halls, there are 136 buildings, some of them with a long past.
WVU was founded in 1867 as the Agricultural College of West Virginia, a land-grant university resulting from the Morrill Act. The university received its current name in 1868.
Today the school is governed by the WVU Board of Governors and the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. The university is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and dozens of specialized academic accrediting agencies. It operates 14 colleges and schools that offer more than 171 bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and professional degree programs.
Popular majors include arts and sciences, business and economics, creative arts, engineering and mineral resources, human resources and education, journalism, law, and consumer sciences.
Current enrollment consists of 26,000 students from all 55 West Virginia counties, all U.S. states, and 89 other nations. Approximately 450 students take part in the university's study-abroad programs and international exchanges. West Virginia University features branch campuses at Parkersburg, Charleston, Wheeling, and Keyser, and five off-campus graduate centers. It also operates the state agricultural experiment station, an extensive university farm system, forestry and engineering camps, experimental forests, a biological station, as well as coal and energy research facilities.
The library systems house 1.7 million volumes, 130 databases, and more than 10,000 on-line, full-text journals. Fraternities, sororities, and more than 250 clubs and organizations enhance campus life. Housing is available for 3500 students.
A variety of scholarships are available, whose award criteria are based on academic record, financial need, group affiliation, or a combination of these factors. Athletic scholarships are awarded in football, basketball, baseball, track/cross country, and other sports.
WVA’s intercollegiate sports teams are known as the “Mountaineers.” Members of the NCAA, they participate in the Big East Athletic Conference at the Division I-A level in 17 intercollegiate varsity sports.