EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Our workforce and residents have access to highly-ranked universities, community colleges, training programs and more helping to contribute to a higher quality of life in Wood County, WV. To help ensure that each individual has an equal opportunity to take advantage of these programs West Virginia offers its residents a variety of grants and scholarships. Including a merit-based financial aid program called the Promise Scholarship. Individuals who receive this scholarship can receive annual awards up to $4,750 to cover in-state tuition costs. Additionally, the West Virginia Legislature recently passed West Virginia Invests, which offers free community and technical college for all residents. This new initiative is a “last-dollar-in” financial aid program designed to cover the cost of basic tuition and fees for certificate or associate degree programs in specific high-demand fields at a participating West Virginia public two- or four-year institution.
WIth a variety of programs to meet every student’s needs, our public and private schools have a vision to work as a community to inspire a passion for learning and empower students to reach their potential. Learning comes first in Wood County as evidenced by above average scores on ACT, SAT, state testing and more. In addition to Wood County Public Schools, Wood County also offers several private school options including Wood County Christian, Parkersburg Catholic and more.
Wood County residents have access to a variety of highly ranked universities with a wide range of specialties including biology, education, law, health-related fields, accounting and more. Universities in the Mid-Ohio Valley place a huge emphasis on one-on-one instruction with low student-faculty ratios such as 10:1 at Marietta College. When it comes to prestige, Marietta College is consistently named one of the top private colleges in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report's annual index of America's Best Colleges (most recently as a Top-10 school in the Midwest). Ohio University, the oldest public university in the state of Ohio, is just a short 40 minute drive from Wood County, WV.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND EDUCATION WORKFORCE
Workforce training is a top priority in the Mountain State and Wood County. WVU Parkersburg brings this to life, giving businesses and their employees an advantage through specialized workforce education and training programs.
Whether you’re looking for an affordable college education close to home, hands-on training to jump-start your career, or something in between – you’ll find it at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
Founded in 1961, WVU Parkersburg is one of the most affordable, fully-accredited colleges in the nation, and the only community and technical college in West Virginia to offer four-year bachelor’s degree programs. The college’s primary service area is Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt and Wood counties in West Virginia.
WVU Parkersburg offers more than 50 degree programs that can be completed in one, two or four years. Each program delivers the highest-quality instruction with state-of-the-art technology, cutting-edge simulation labs, hands-on professional experiences and flexible schedules to give you the opportunity to be successful.
Students also have the opportunity to gain work experience while completing their degree program through a state-funded Learn and Earn program. The program creates partnerships between industry and community and technical colleges by allowing students to receive hands-on learning experience, and employers to train potential future employees. Computer Information Technology, Computer Science and Chemical & Polymer Operator Technology are just a few of the Learn and Earn programs offered to students at WVU Parkersburg.
Businesses across the region rely on WVU Parkersburg’s Workforce and Economic Development Division to provide custom, industry-specific training programs to meet workforce demands. Providing leadership development training to WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center’s workforce and bringing on-site training and testing through a mobile welding lab to Hino Motors employees are a few of the ways WVU Parkersburg is meeting the workforce development needs of area employers.
Scholarship Opportunities
WVU Parkersburg’s Accelerating Student Completion: Encouraging New Dreams (Ascend) is a program created to help more students earn certificates and associate degrees within three years. Funded by a grant from Arnold Ventures, Ascend replicates the ASAP program at CUNY colleges whose students doubled their graduation rates by providing a range of financial, academic, and personal supports. These supports include comprehensive and personal advisement, career counseling, tutoring, waivers for tuition and mandatory fees, Kroger gift cards for groceries and/or gas, and additional financial assistance to defray the cost of textbooks.
Ascend also offers special class scheduling options to ensure that Ascend students get the classes they need, are in classes with other Ascend students, and attend classes in convenient blocks of time to accommodate their work schedules. As students approach graduation, they will receive additional assistance to help them transfer to a bachelor’s degree program, another 4-year college, or transition into the workforce, depending on their goals.
Learn more at www.wvup.edu/ascend
The PROMISE Scholarship is a merit-based financial aid program for West Virginia residents. Students who achieve certain academic requirements are eligible to receive funds to help pay for college. Eligible high school graduates will receive annual awards up to $4,750 to cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at public or independent institutions in West Virginia. Awards are contingent upon annual funding of the program by the West Virginia State Legislature.
Learn more at www.collegeforwv.com/programs/promise-scholarship/
West Virginia Invests is a last-dollar-in financial aid program designed to cover the cost of tuition, mandatory fees and academic program fees for certificate or associate degree programs in specific high-demand fields, as determined by the West Virginia Department of Commerce, at a participating West Virginia public two- or four-year institution. With 75% of jobs in the current economy requiring postsecondary education or training, West Virginia Invests is designed to help more West Virginians like you earn the credentials you need to land a rewarding career right here at home.
Learn more at www.collegeforwv.com/programs/invest-grant/
