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BUCKHANNON, West Virginia — West Virginia Wesleyan College is taking new steps to make a private college education more affordable, attainable and predictable with a comprehensive set of initiatives that include locking tuition for four years, increasing academic scholarships and creating new opportunities for qualifying students to have the full cost of tuition covered.
Beginning with students enrolling in fall 2027, Wesleyan’s Tuition Lock Guarantee will keep a student’s tuition rate the same for all four years, giving students and families greater certainty as they plan for college. Current students enrolled in fall 2026 will also have their tuition rate locked through their graduation.
“These initiatives are a testament to West Virginia Wesleyan College’s commitment to making a Wesleyan education more affordable, accessible and achievable for more students and families across West Virginia and throughout our region,” President James Moore said. “We know families are making significant investments and sacrifices to pursue a college education, and we believe Wesleyan has a responsibility to meet that commitment with greater clarity, predictability and financial support. This is about investing in students and ensuring that the transformational education Wesleyan provides remains within reach for the next generation.”
For qualifying West Virginia students, the new Home Among the Hills Program can cover the full cost of tuition. Pell Grant-eligible West Virginia students with a 3.3 GPA or higher will qualify for the program, providing families with a clear and straightforward way to determine eligibility earlier in the college search process. There is no longer a need to wait on Adjusted Gross Income or Student Aid Index information to determine eligibility.
Through the Home Among the Hills Program, Wesleyan scholarships, grants and talent awards will work alongside available state and federal aid, including the PROMISE Scholarship, West Virginia Higher Education Grant and Pell Grant, to cover remaining tuition costs.
Wesleyan is also providing additional support for West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship recipients through Wesleyan Promise Plus. Qualifying PROMISE Scholars who have demonstrated continued academic success can receive additional aid covering up to the full cost of tuition and fees.
The college is also increasing the value of its academic scholarships for incoming students. Under the new structure, students can qualify based on weighted high school GPA for renewable annual awards ranging from $16,000 to $20,000. The scholarships are guaranteed for four years for eligible students without requiring them to reapply each academic year.
The new affordability initiatives also extend beyond West Virginia. Through the Access Advantage Program, qualifying out-of-state students can receive additional scholarship assistance. The program is designed to help offset financial aid differences students may encounter when considering a college outside their home state.
The announcement comes as Wesleyan welcomed more than 400 new students to campus for the start of the academic year, representing a 20% increase over last year and the college’s largest incoming class in five years. The incoming class also includes a more than 70% increase in students receiving the West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship, reflecting growing interest among high-achieving students from across the state.
Together, the Tuition Lock Guarantee, Home Among the Hills Program, Wesleyan Promise Plus, enhanced academic scholarships and Access Advantage Program are designed to give students and families a clearer understanding of what a Wesleyan education will cost while expanding opportunities for students to make West Virginia Wesleyan their Home Among the Hills.
To learn more about West Virginia Wesleyan College’s new affordability initiatives, visit www.wvwc.edu/hereyoucan.
