University of Charleston

Updated August 7, 2020

Founded as a seminary school called the Barboursville Seminary of the United Methodist Church, the University of Charleston opened in 1888. It changed its name to Morris Harvey College towards the turn of the 20th century. After moving to Charleston, the college formed a partnership with a local music academy and began offering courses in singing, dancing and music. Though it ended its affiliation with the United Methodist Church in the 1940s, it continues operating as a private university today. Its enrollment of around 2,100 students helps the university keeps its class sizes down and provide a more welcoming environment for incoming students.

The University of Charleston requires that all students demonstrate competency in six key areas before graduating, including citizenship, critical thinking and ethical practice. It also offers opportunities for students to give back to the local community through service learning projects held every year. U.S. News & World Report ranked US as one of the top southern colleges and named it the top college in West Virginia. UC also appeared on the Princeton Review's list of the top American colleges. The university offers more than 20 undergrad majors, four master's degrees in the business field and a pharmacy doctoral program.

Accreditation Details

The University of Charleston has accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. Also known as the HLC, it has several branches operating across the country. The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools is the branch responsible for accrediting colleges in the northern and central parts of the nation and is the branch that gave accreditation to the University of Charleston. Ten of its degree programs have specialized accreditation from other organizations too, including programs in social work, occupational therapy, nursing and interior design. Organizations that granted specialized accreditation to UC include:

Council of Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation
Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiological Technology
American Occupational Therapy Association
West Virginia Department of Education
National Teacher Education Accreditation Council
National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission
Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education

Application Requirements

The university has different requirements for those applying for graduate school than it has for those applying for undergrad status. All students must first use the online application. The graduate school has its own online application. You can use the online option, complete a paper application or use the universal application website. Similar to the Common Application, this site lets you use your personal information to create multiple applications and apply to more than one college.

The undergrad application asks for your name, social security number, birth date, home address, phone number, email address and similar information about your parents. You'll pay the $25 application fee when you finish filling out the form. The university then asks for an official standardized test score and a high school transcript. You must take the SAT or ACT within five years of applying to the university. If you want to live on-campus in campus housing, you must also complete a housing application that asks about your preferences in regards to room types and roommates.

Prospective University of Charleston graduate students can use a similar online application that also charges a small fee. The other admissions requirements vary based on the program you choose. Many programs ask for a standardized test score from an exam like the GRE. You may also need to submit letters of recommendation, a personal essay or statement and even a copy of your resume. The university recommends that students file the FAFSA as soon as possible after completing the application.

Tuition and Financial Aid

As an undergrad studying at UC, you'll pay just under $30,000 a year for tuition and all miscellaneous fees. The university estimates the cost of room and board at another $9,100 a year. You can opt for a different meal plan or room type to save a little money. The cost of its graduate programs varies between programs, but MBA students can expect to pay around $28,000 a year. Other programs charge students $11,000 or more a semester, and some programs cost over $30,000 a year.

You should always look for financial aid opportunities before enrolling in a grad or undergrad program. Filling out the FAFSA is the first step in getting that aid. The university will send information to your home about your total package. Loans and grants are open to both graduate students and undergrads, but graduate students can usually borrow more each year in the form of loans. Undergrads can sign up for the federal work-study program available on the campus and apply for scholarships too. There are also PLUS loans available for the parents of accepted students and alternative loans that students can apply for with or without a co-signer.

Online Degrees

Management Degrees

The top two programs for management students available through the University of Charleston are its Bachelor's of Science in Business Management and its Master of Business Administration programs. Its Bachelor's of Science in Business Management is open to undergrads. After completing the general education core, you will take several electives and 42 credits of core business classes. Core business classes include principles of accounting, business law, principles of marketing, business statistics and business finance. UC offers some more advanced business courses too like organization and operations of a small business, security and portfolio analysis, market research and human resource management. This program is also available online.

UC designed its MBA program for students to complete in just 16 months of full-time study. It includes an international practicum that lets students spend several weeks or longer studying global business in an international area. Students previously did their practicums in Brazil, Ireland and other countries. As an MBA student, you'll learn the fundamentals of working for others and running your own business. Management and organizational behavior is a required course that teaches you how to make ethical decisions in the business world and how to work with a wide range of people. Though the University of Charleston gives you the option to pick and choose some of the classes you take, you must take courses on quantitative methods for management, international business and trade, strategic decision making and managerial economics.