NC West Virginia News

West Virginia University (WVU) has maintained its strong financial position, as confirmed by recent evaluations from S&P Global Ratings and Fitch. The university retained its A credit rating with S&P, which cited WVU's flagship land-grant status, diverse program offerings, geographic diversity, and increased state operating appropriations over the past two years. Additional state funds for capital support were also noted.

Fitch had earlier reaffirmed an AA- rating for WVU. Last month, the university received a clean independent audit from CliftonLarsonAllen, indicating good financial standing and creditworthiness.

Chief Financial Officer Paula Congelio expressed satisfaction with the ratings: “We are pleased S&P and Fitch extended our strong ratings and continue to recognize our efforts to address the challenges facing higher education.” She added that these reaffirmations reflect "disciplined, strong leadership" guiding decision-making for strategic investments in WVU's long-term future.

S&P highlighted several factors supporting WVU's stability. These include a diverse revenue base, successful fundraising efforts, improvements in selectivity over the past three years, solid retention and graduation rates, and achieving the highest Carnegie research classification despite ongoing enrollment pressures in higher education.

To bolster enrollment further, WVU is leveraging partnerships through initiatives like the new WVU Degree Up program. The university is also prioritizing financial aid and scholarship opportunities for students.