Concord University is located in Athens, West Virginia and is the county's only university. The university specializes in all types of bachelor's and master's degree programs. According to the school their most popular majors are accounting, advertising, biology computer science and pre-law among many others. The university was founded in 1872 soon after the Civil War and as of 2011 is host to students from 22 states and 16 different nations. They also offer 18 men's and women's NCAA Division II athletic programs. The school is located just off Interstate 77 on a 123-acre campus.
Bluefield State College is located in Bluefield, West Virginia and has graduated more than 350 students each year since 2002. Bluefield State College offers 14 nationally accredited programs and the school has been named in the U.S. News and World Report list of "America's Best Colleges" for eight consecutive years. Since this is a state college, tuition fees are lower than the private universities and colleges in the area. Bluefield State College was established as a black teachers college in 1895 and was integrated after 1954 upon the heels of the civil rights movement.
The Princeton campus of National College offers programs in administrative office professions, business administration, computer applications, information systems engineering and medical billing and coding. The college campus recently opened in 2010 and has18,000 square feet of space encompassing several classrooms, a medical laboratory and an information technology lab. On-site amenities include a 200,000 holding library and student lounge. Most programs offer certificates and associate degrees. Business Administration-Management is the sole bachelor's degree program offered at National College.
Valley College of Technology is has several locations throughout the West Virginia, but just one in Mercer County. It is one of the smallest colleges in the area. The Princeton division of Valley College of Technology offers an office technology certificate program and a two-year associate degree program in business administration.