First-Time Graduate Applicant
You are considered a first-time applicant if you have not previously applied to and/or attended West Virginia University for graduate school.
How to Apply as a First-Time Graduate Applicant
To apply to West Virginia University as a first-time graduate applicant:
- Create an account* and complete the graduate application.
- Pay the $60 application fee*
- Submit the application
NOTE: The application runs best in the Google Chrome browser. Applicants will NOT be able to submit their application until all required sections are complete and all required documentation is uploaded. If you experience any technical difficulties or payment errors, please email graduateadmissions@mail.wvu.edu or call 304.293.1988.
**Application fee waivers are available for current WVU and WVU Medicine employees, United States active military personnel and veterans, McNair Scholars, and AmeriCorps and Peace Corps members.
Application Considerations
University GPA Requirement
Graduate degree-seeking applicants must meet the University standard of possessing a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for regular admission .
Some graduate programs have minimum GPA requirements that are higher than the University minimum. Please consult with a program representative from your graduate program of interest to determine the GPA requirement for that graduate program.
Sending Official Undergraduate Transcripts
WVU cannot accept scans, uploads, faxes, or unverified photocopies of transcripts as official.
Graduate degree-seeking applicants must send their official transcript from the undergraduate institution that granted the bachelor’s degree. It is preferred that official transcripts be sent via an online, secure service such as eScrip-Safe, National Student Clearinghouse, or Parchment to graduateadmissions@mail.wvu.edu. Alternatively, sealed, untampered, physical official transcripts can be sent to:
WVU Hub
P.O. Box 6004
Morgantown, WV 26506
International Applicants and Express Mail
International applicants and applicants using express mail, use the address below:
WVU Hub
62 Morrill Way - Suite 220
Morgantown, WV 26506
Additional Information Submitting Transcripts
If your undergraduate degree is in-progress at the time you apply, please send the transcripts to-date. If you receive admission into your intended graduate degree program, final transcripts that reflect recently completed courses and the conferred undergraduate degree will need to be sent.
Graduate degree-seeking applicants who have completed a graduate degree at an external institution are not required by the University to submit official masters or doctoral transcripts. Please check with your graduate program of interest to determine if they require the official master's or doctoral transcripts.
If West Virginia University is your undergraduate degree granting institution you do not need to send transcripts.
Program Specific Application Requirements
In addition to the university standards, the application must meet the minimum admissions criteria determined by the program. Each graduate program sets its own admissions requirements. These requirements may include:
- a GPA higher than the university standard
- standardized test scores
- letters of recommendation
- statement of purpose
- etc.
To be sure you are meeting all the program specific admissions requirements, we recommend you visit the graduate admissions database and search for your program of intent, and/or contact a graduate program representative regarding specific questions.
NOTE: You will NOT be able to submit your application until all required sections are completed and any required documents are uploaded.
Need Help?
Contact a Graduate Admissions and Recruitment staff member.