West Virginia University at Parkersburg President Torie Jackson addresses the school’s Board of Governors, who approved a 2.5% tuition increase for the 2026-27 school year. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — Tuition at West Virginia University at Parkersburg will increase 2.5% for the 2026-27 school year.

The school’s Board of Governors approved the increase Tuesday.

WVUP Chief Financial Officer Bradley Wilson told the board the tuition rate did not change from 2024-25 to 2025-26. He cited the overall financial situation outside the college becoming “more challenging” as the reason for the 2.5% increase.

Tuition for 100 and 200 level courses will go from $188 to $192 per credit hour while baccalaureate degree courses will go from $260 to $267 per credit hour, Wilson said.

“This will generate roughly $195,000 in additional revenue,” he said.

Even with the increase, WVUP will retain one of the lowest tuitions in the state, Wilson said. This year, the university has the second-lowest tuition in the state community college system.

“We will still be very competitive,” he said.

The board also approved a change in fees, with increases for some courses and labs and adjustments for cost differences. Some fees were also increased as materials students previously had to get for themselves will be included as part of the class, officials said.

WVUP President Torie Jackson provided an update on the three goals she had for this year including advancing the Innovation and Technology Center in Vienna, strengthening student retention and continuing the work of updating governance/policies.

The Innovation and Technology Center on the former Ohio Valley University campus remains one of the most important strategic investments the university is making, not just for WVUP but for the entire Mid-Ohio Valley, Jackson said.

“Construction is progressing, funding continues to be aligned, and we’ve been very intentional about building the right partnerships to ensure that this facility is not just complete – but fully utilized,” she said.

They’re continuing to strengthen relationships with industry partners to ensure the training and education there directly connects to workforce needs, Jackson said. The college has worked through key lease negotiations that will bring both clinical services and wellness programming into the building.

“We have also stayed focused on making sure that every square foot of that building serves a purpose tied to opportunity – whether that’s for students, employers or the broader community,” she said.

The school is also working on student retention.

Access is just the first step, Jackson said. Students have to be able to follow through and be able to complete the coursework, so they are working to improve systems to identify students earlier when they need support.

“We’ve continued to build pathways that make sense for today’s students – including those who are balancing work, family and education at the same time,” she said. “Our work with employer-sponsored students continues to be a strong example of this.

“When education is aligned with a clear purpose and supported by employers, we see persistence, momentum and meaningful progress.”

Jackson said they have made sure the school’s policies align with current state and federal requirements.

Recruitment and retention continue to be an important part of what the school is doing with more focus planned on its Jackson County Center. The campus continues to have strong community connections and puts college into the reach of students who may not otherwise see a college pathway as possible, Jackson said.

Board Vice Chairman Blaine Hess said the university’s enrollment is up 7% with the full-time equivalency at an increase of 3%.

“Everything is running in a positive direction, and that brings us to 10 semesters of increased enrollment,” Hess said. “That is a wonderful benchmark, and we hope to continue down that path.”