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West Virginia University at Parkersburg 300 Campus Drive | Parkersburg, WV |  26104-8647  Phone:  304-424-8203 | Fax:  304-424-8315  Director:  Connie Dziagwa | E-mail:  connie.dziagwa@mail.wvu.edu

WVU Parkersburg cited for its low percentage of graduates with debt.

CONTACT:  WVU Parkersburg President Erik Bitterbaum, 304-424-8200.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Virginia University at Parkersburg has a number one ranking in the 2003 America’s Best Colleges Guide by U.S. News and World Report.

The annual guide cites WVU Parkersburg as having the lowest percentage of graduates with debt among all comprehensive baccalaureate degree-granting colleges in the South. Only 35% of WVU Parkersburg’s students graduate with debt and the average amount is $2,638, according to U.S. News and World Report data.

"This is testament to our commitment to keep a college education as affordable as possible," Erik Bitterbaum, president of WVU Parkersburg, said.

WVU Parkersburg offers a blend of community college programs and select baccalaureate degrees.  Bitterbaum noted the Parkersburg campus has the lowest community college tuition in West Virginia and its baccalaureate tuition is the second lowest in the United States.  

Rounding out U.S. News and World Report's top five institutions with the least student indebtedness are Alice Lloyd College with an average debt of $3,542 and Berea College, with an average amount of debt of $3,567 both in Kentucky; Fairmont State College with an average debt of $5,726, and Bluefield State College with an average amount of debt of $7,000. There are 37 institutions in the southern comprehensive college category.

The annual guide ranks institutions on various attributes, including acceptance rates, test scores of entering students, financial aid, e-learning, etc.

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