West Virginia's newest community college, founded 2003, serving 10 counties with affordable 2-year degrees and workforce training.
New River offers 10 Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees, 13 Associate in Science (A.S.) degrees, 2 Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.) degrees, and various certificates. Programs span business and computers, humanities and social sciences, nursing and health professions, and technical fields including welding and cosmetology. Many A.S. programs articulate with four-year institutions like Bluefield State and Glenville State Colleges. The college operates distance learning via Interactive Video Network (IVN) videoconferencing and web-based instruction across its multiple campuses.
New River operates five main campuses and seven total locations across its 10-county service district: Raleigh County Campus (Beaver, main campus), Greenbrier Valley Campus (Lewisburg), Nicholas County Campus (Summersville), Mercer County Campus (Princeton), Advanced Technology Center (Ghent), One Room University (Marlinton), and a location at Summers County ARH Hospital (Hinton). The college provides academic tutoring, counseling resources, disability services, library services, career services, and student involvement opportunities. 55% of students are part-time; 32% are dual enrollment.
New River practices open-door admissions, welcoming all applicants regardless of educational background. Prospective students must complete the FAFSA (school code 039603), attend orientation, meet with a Student Success Coach, and pay tuition by registration deadline. The college encourages FAFSA completion by April 15 for West Virginia Higher Education Grant eligibility and potential free tuition via the West Virginia Invests grant. Transfer students are also welcome.
The college awards $125,000 annually in scholarships and emphasizes affordability as a core value. Students benefit from dedicated Student Success Coaches assigned to each degree-seeking student to assist with registration, resource connection, and academic planning. Career Services provides job referrals, resume guidance, and career counseling through partnerships with employers and educational counselors.