Best Community Colleges in West Virginia

In the past decade, online learning has become more prevalent. And with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, more students are receiving their education remotely than ever before. It is now easy for students to engage with their professors and classmates in real-time, take exams, and submit assignments through online learning platforms.

Many online community colleges in West Virginia offer an additional benefit: asynchronous classes. Asynchronous courses allow students to attend pre-recorded lectures so that they can learn at their own pace and convenience.

Community colleges in West Virginia are often less expensive to attend than four-year institutions. They can provide students with a quick, flexible, and relatively affordable pathway to joining the workforce or transferring to a university after graduation.

Community colleges in West Virginia can provide students with hands-on learning and on-the-job training opportunities in high-demand fields and industries. Attending a community college is often a more affordable and flexible way to secure an entry-level job or earn credits toward a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college or university. Community colleges in West Virginia also offer online classes, which can allow students to earn their degrees at their own convenience.

Like the rest of the world, West Virginia has been impacted economically by the COVID-19 pandemic. But the economy in West Virginia is steadily recovering. The state is seeing high growth in the sectors like healthcare and social assistance, manufacturing, real estate, retail trade, and other professional and technical services. The state of West Virginia had a population of 1.8 million in July 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis reports that West Virginia possessed a gross domestic product (GDP) of $76 billion in 2020.

West Virginia is known as one of the lowest-cost states in the U.S. Its overall cost of living rating is only 78.1, which is more than 20 points below the national average. Housing and other living costs, such as groceries, utilities, and transportation, are also comparatively inexpensive in West Virginia. The only living cost in West Virginia that is above the national average is healthcare, which is six points above the U.S. average.

West Virginia is divided into 55 different counties, and each is home to diverse communities and cultural offerings. Residents and tourists can visit the state’s renowned art galleries such as the Harmony Ridge Gallery, Buxton and Landstreet Gallery, and Tamarack’s Fine Arts Gallery. West Virginia is also home to art museums like the Huntington Museum of Art and the Art Museum of West Virginia University. Those who like the outdoors and history can visit Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Blackwater Falls State Park, and New River Gorge National River.

According to Britannica, the state of West Virginia has a humid continental climate. Summers are warm and damp, while winters are moderately cold. January is the coldest month, and July is the hottest. Average temperatures and rainfall vary in different areas of the state. In the mountainous zones, the average annual temperature is 48 degrees, whereas in the southern region, it’s 56 degrees. Precipitation ranges from 35-60 inches per year depending on location and elevation.

After being hit hard by COVID-19, West Virginia’s economy and employment outlook continues to recover. According to the Great Falls Tribune, the state’s unemployment rate went up to nearly 16% in April 2020, but the figure has steadily decreased since then. According to West Virginia’s Department of Commerce, West Virginia’s unemployment rate decreased to 4% in November 2021 — an all-time low record for the state. The state has seen drastic employment gains in the industries of trade and transportation, utilities, leisure and hospitality, construction, and manufacturing.

Earning an associate degree or even a nondegree certificate can allow individuals to apply for healthcare support roles. Some of the positions that fall into this category are dental assistant and hygienist, emergency medical technician and paramedic, licensed practical and vocational nurse, home health aide, occupational therapy assistant, medical transcriptionist, nursing assistant, physician assistant, and respiratory therapists.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), community and social service occupations are projected to grow more quickly over the next decade than other positions. The state of West Virginia could see an uptick in new jobs for social workers, social and human service assistants, probation officers and correctional treatment specialists, health education specialists, community health workers, family therapists, school and career advisors, and mental health counselors.

As businesses and companies rely more on computers for day-to-day functions, the demand for professionals in the computer and information technology industry will likely also grow. Workers in this field may specialize in information research, computer network, computer programming, computer systems, information security analysis, database administration, web development, digital design, or software development.

According to the West Virginia Department of Education, the state is currently undergoing a teacher shortage, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, teachers are in demand in the state. Professionals are also needed in the fields of career and technical education, library media, library technology, and special education. Employees in this industry also include archivists, curators, and teacher assistants.

Recent graduates interested in the installation, maintenance, and repair industry can pursue entry-level roles as aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics, automotive service technicians, electrical and electronics installers, medical equipment repairers, and wind turbine technicians. These roles only require an associate degree or a technical certificate, both of which can be obtained at a community college in West Virginia.

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