Bethany College calls itself a "small college of national distinction." Some 850 students enjoy the charming campus of old brick buildings. The college is nestled in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains in Bethany, a community near Wheeling, West Virginia. Founder Alexander Campbell provided the lands and funds for the school in 1840. Bethany has religious ties to Campbell's Disciples of Christ, but does not exercise sectarian control. The private school offers a four-year liberal arts program and is known for its leadership programs.
The University of Charleston stands along the Kanawha River, in the heart of West Virginia's capital city. This private school, founded in 1888, is home to 1400 students, on a campus of mostly new buildings. The university features a performance-based curriculum called Learning Your Way. It focuses on student learning, not faculty teaching. Students must graduate proficient in their knowledge of citizenship, communication, creativity, critical thinking, ethical practice, and science. UC offers 15 undergraduate degrees and three graduate degrees.
Tiny and private, Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia, provides a retreat from city life. 700 students travel winding two-lane roads to attend this liberal arts school. It sits on the edge of the Monongahela National Forest, close to premiere outdoor areas for skiing and hiking. Classes hail back to 1904, shortly after Senators Stephen Elkins and Henry Davis donated the land for the Presbyterian-related academy. D&E offers 30 undergraduate degrees, and boasts a unique 3-week semester between fall and spring that is devoted to student research or travel.
West Virginia Wesleyan, located in the small town of Buckhannon, West Virginia, started as a Methodist seminary academy in 1890. Today the school continues its affiliation with the United Methodist Church. This private college serves 1400 students. It offers 43 liberal arts majors and graduate degrees in five different areas, including athletic training and nursing. Student life includes religious organizations, sororities and fraternities, and NCAA Division II sports teams. Wesleyan is the only small college in the state to produce international Fulbright scholars.