Institute, WV · Clery Act 2023 · Public

West Virginia State University

According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 3,458-student campus.

1.16
Incidents / 1k students
#1,685
Rank of 3,050
#17
WV rank
3,458
Enrolled students

Data updated June 2026

The verdict

West Virginia State University reports 1.16 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #1,685 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses - with more reported incidents than 51% of ranked campuses its size.

1.16
incidents / 1,000 students
#1,685
of 3,050 ranked nationally
51%
report fewer incidents than this campus
2
on-campus incidents, 2023

Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).

Reporting-period change

What changed in 2023

-3 reported incidents

West Virginia State University decreased from 5 to 2 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.

This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.

See national reporting-year changes

West Virginia State University is a Public institution located in Institute, WV, enrolling approximately 3,458 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 13 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within WV, it ranks #17 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →

With 3,458 enrolled students, this campus sits in the small college bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.

The most frequently reported category at West Virginia State University is "Aggravated Assault" with 7 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in WV averaging 1.39 incidents per 1,000 students, West Virginia State University reports 17% fewer incidents per student.

Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 0 total fires. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 9 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. Federal enforcement history shows 1 recorded Clery Act violation with associated fines, a material signal about institutional compliance.

Safety Score

1.16 /1K students

incidents per 1,000 enrolled

National Rank

#1685

See peer comparison

State Rank (WV)

#17

within state peers

Incidents (2023)

2

across 11 crime categories

Where West Virginia State University sits among ranked U.S. campuses

On-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 students, every ranked campus with 2,000+ students

1 safer than 49% of 1,807 ranked campuses

0–1: 874 ranked campuses (48%). Below this entry. 1–2: 281 ranked campuses (16%). This entry sits in this band. 2–3: 186 ranked campuses (10%). Above this entry. 3–4: 135 ranked campuses (7%). Above this entry. 4–5: 84 ranked campuses (5%). Above this entry. 5–6: 71 ranked campuses (4%). Above this entry. 6–7: 36 ranked campuses (2%). Above this entry. 7–8: 37 ranked campuses (2%). Above this entry. 8–9: 103 ranked campuses (6%). Above this entry. This campus 0 9 every ranked campus, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more ranked campuses. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act) · 2023

Safety percentile vs. peers

West Virginia State University percentile rank 44.8%
National median

Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #1685 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.

Reporting density vs peer median

West Virginia State University reports 17% fewer incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.

Academic & Financial Profile

Tuition & Costs

In-State Tuition
$9,570
Out-of-State Tuition
$14,990
Avg Net Price
$11,139
Median Debt
$23,338
Pell Grant Recipients
20%
How does this cost rank in WV? →

Admissions

Acceptance Rate
96%
SAT Average
955
SAT Math Range
350–490
ACT Range
15–20

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate
36%
Retention Rate
57%
Median Earnings (6yr)
$32,849
Median Earnings (10yr)
$40,492
Loan Repayment (3yr)
47%

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.

Crime Statistics by Year

11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus only

West Virginia State University: on-campus incidents by year

Declining 67% (6 → 2 incidents)

02468 202120222023 6 2 ▼ -66.7%
Crime Type 202320222021
Aggravated Assault 133
Arson 000
Burglary 111
Fondling 002
Incest 000
Motor Vehicle Theft 000
Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter 000
Negligent Manslaughter 000
Rape 010
Robbery 000
Statutory Rape 000

Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents

Fire Safety

Year Fires Inj. Deaths Cat I Cat II
2023 0 0 0 0 0

Arrests & Disciplinary Actions

9 category-year records
Disposition26%47%27%ArrestsDisciplinary referralsNo action
9 reported records
Category Year Arrests Discipline
Drugs 2023 0 3
Liquor 2023 0 0
Weapons 2023 0 0
Drugs 2022 1 0
Liquor 2022 0 0
Weapons 2022 0 0
Drugs 2021 0 1
Liquor 2021 0 1
Weapons 2021 0 0

West Virginia State University vs peer institutions

Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment

Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).

Selected

WV

West Virginia State University

1.16 incidents / 1,000 students
National rank
#1,685
Enrollment
3,458
Data year
2023

Similar Institutions

Saint Xavier University
Chicago, IL · 3,457 enrolled
Safety Score 1.74
Coastal Carolina Community College
Jacksonville, NC · 3,457 enrolled
Safety Score 0.58
University of Portland
Portland, OR · 3,457 enrolled
Safety Score 3.18
Palo Verde College
Blythe, CA · 3,461 enrolled
Safety Score 0.00
Central State University
Wilberforce, OH · 3,454 enrolled
Safety Score 1.45

Closest by National Rank

Institutions ranked nearest West Virginia State University nationally (rank #1685), regardless of size or state.

William Woods University
Fulton, MO
National Rank #1684
Morehead State University
Morehead, KY
National Rank #1686
Universal Technical Institute-Auto Motorcycle & Marine Mechanics Institute Division-Orlando
Orlando, FL
National Rank #1683
Dominican University
River Forest, IL
National Rank #1687
Corban University
Salem, OR
National Rank #1682

Frequently Asked Questions

Is West Virginia State University safe?
West Virginia State University has a safety score of 1.16 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #1,685 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at West Virginia State University?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does West Virginia State University compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in WV.
Does West Virginia State University have fire safety data?
Yes. West Virginia State University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. No fires were reported in the most recent year.

Understanding West Virginia State University's Safety Profile

West Virginia State University in Institute, WV enrolls 3,458 students and has a safety score of 1.16 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #1685 nationally. This relatively low score indicates fewer reported on-campus incidents relative to enrollment size.

Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents decreased from 5 in 2022 to 2 in 2023.

Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. No fires were reported in the most recent year, indicating effective fire prevention measures.

DOE Enforcement Actions

2014 Clery Act Violation $70,000

Failure to comply with Clery Act requirements including crime reporting, timely warnings, and annual security report distribution.

Fine paid.

View all Clery Act enforcement actions →

What this means for you

West Virginia State University's 1.16 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.

Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.

Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.