


The University of Charleston is a private university in Charleston, West Virginia, whose history began in 1888 as Barboursville Seminary. It later became Morris Harvey College, moved to Charleston in the 1930s, and adopted the University of Charleston name in 1978.
Those changes help explain why the university has both a traditional undergraduate campus and professional programs. Its early history is associated with Methodist education, but applicants should evaluate the university's present-day academic and campus policies rather than assume that its founding affiliation defines the current student experience.
The University of Charleston offers undergraduate and graduate study across liberal arts, business, education, health, and professional fields. Its academic organization includes a School of Pharmacy, alongside programs in areas such as nursing, business administration, computer science, biology, and psychology.
Applicants should check the current academic catalog for the school, credential, campus, and delivery format attached to a particular program. A business bachelor's degree, a nursing program, and a pharmacy doctorate have different admission routes and academic requirements; university admission alone does not establish eligibility for every professional program. Students considering a licensed profession should also examine that program's current accreditation and the licensing rules of the state where they intend to work.
The university's main campus is in Charleston, West Virginia's capital, along the Kanawha River. The city setting gives students access to state government, health care employers, and other organizations that may be relevant to internships or field experience.
Charleston is not a large metropolitan transit market, so commuting students should plan around their actual class and work schedules. First-year students are permitted to register or park a car on campus. West Virginia International Yeager Airport serves the Charleston area; travelers should still account for ground transportation between the airport and campus. Applicants to online or location-specific programs should confirm where required classes, labs, and clinical placements take place.
The University of Charleston states that its mission is to educate students for lives of productive work, enlightened living, and community involvement. This is a statement of educational purpose, not a measured guarantee of employment or civic outcomes.
For prospective students, the useful question is how that mission appears in a chosen program: its general education requirements, opportunities for applied learning, and expectations for participation beyond coursework. The university's historical religious roots should not be confused with a requirement that students share a particular faith.
Name of the institution
University of CharlestonLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: SmallInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1888University of Charleston is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.