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Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

The Flying WV logo
A student leans over to examine a robotic arm.

WVU maintains prominent R1 ranking as top US research university

West Virginia University was reaffirmed as an R1 university, the highest possible research ranking, in the 2025 rankings by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching released Thursday (Feb. 13). WVU is the only R1 institution in West Virginia and one of 187 colleges and universities nationwide to earn the latest prestigious classification.

Graphic for 2025 WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni.

WVU 2025 Academy of Distinguished Alumni honorees announced

Five distinguished West Virginia University graduates, whose accomplishments span communications, business, leadership, music and nursing, will be inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Alumni during a Feb. 7 ceremony at the Erickson Alumni Center in Morgantown.

A graduate wearing a blue graduation gown and cap holds a blue diploma holder while crossing in front of dignataries during Commencement ceremonies.
A student is shown on the right side through a glass window while focused on a black laptop. On the left side of the glass is a graphic with a Flying WV and the words WVU Guarantee.
A scientist wearing a white lab coat points to a white board with a blue triangle and other markings on it while another scientist in a white lab coat watches.

Rewinding the year in research at WVU

West Virginia University continued to demonstrate why it’s the Mountain State’s land-grant, flagship R1 institution over the course of 2024. Here are some of the top research stories from the year.

A graduate wearing a blue cap and gown squeezes their eyes as they hug a faculty member after receiving their diploma packet.
A campus shot at WVU featuring the iron Mountaineer statue in the foreground and red brick buildings in the background. The ground is covered with a light dusting of snow.

Giving back: WVU students volunteer with help from private scholarship support

A West Virginia University student is continuing on the path of service he started while in high school — as a volunteer for community canned food drives, trail maintenance and garbage cleanup projects — thanks to private scholarship support. Izaak Whetsell, an Elkins native, is among 24 students to benefit from a recent $100,000 gift made by WVU alumnus Andrew S. Good.

WVU students work with virtual reality headsets as they conduct research to improve safety for miners.
Photograph of new graduates arm in arm during Commencement ceremonies at WVU.