Online PhD Programs in West Virginia

West Virginia Top Colleges and Universities: American Public University System, West Virginia University, Marshall University

West Virginia Top Industries: Health care and social assistance, retail trade, education services

West Virginia Top Employers: Ruby Day Surgery Center, Charleston Area Medical Center, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Students interested in enrolling in a distance education program have numerous institutions they can choose from in West Virginia. The state’s largest accredited online university is the American Public University System, a private for-profit institution that offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees only in a distance learning format. West Virginia University, the state’s largest public institution, also offers certificates, a bachelor’s in multidisciplinary studies and a nursing RN-to-BSN, and master’s degrees in elementary education, instructional design and technology, public health, software engineering, and more. The American Public University System and West Virginia University are two of more than 20 colleges and universities that offer distance learning courses or fully online degree programs.

Your Online PhD In West Virginia

West Virginia’s health care and social assistance, retail trade, and education services industries are its largest by employment. Four of the state’s 10 largest employers are medical organizations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Bureau of Public Debt employ a significant number of West Virginians as well, according to Career One Stop. These industries employ individuals who work in many different occupations, such as in management, teaching, or nursing. As such, there are many ways an online doctoral degree can apply to West Virginia’s largest industries. For example, a Ph.D. in any subject could qualify an individual for employment as a post secondary teacher at a college or university. Post secondary professors teach college-level courses in chemistry, nursing, business, political science, or any other topic they’ve specialized in. They develop curricula; create lesson plans; determine assignments; and grade their students’ performances on quizzes, exams, and projects. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), post secondary teachers earned a median annual salary of $79,640 in May 2021.

There are numerous ways an individual can apply their doctoral degree to West Virginia’s health care and social assistance industry. For example, online PhD programs in business administration or health care administration may provide an individual with the credentials they’ll need to work as a medical and health services manager. These professionals plan and direct medical and health services for large public and private hospitals, physician’s offices, and other health care facilities. Although a bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement, those with graduate degrees may be preferred for positions at larger facilities, according to the BLS. Medical and health services managers earned a median annual salary of $101,340. However, those who managed facilities with 26 or more physicians, such as the West Virginia University system of hospitals, received a median salary $150,756, the BLS reported. Keep in mind that these doctoral degrees are just a few examples of programs that apply to West Virginia’s largest industries.