The university's origins trace back to 1867. It has expanded over the years to offer some 175 degree programs from the bachelor's through the doctoral level. Disciplines include liberal arts and sciences, law, medicine, dentistry and dental hygiene, nursing and other health science careers, pharmacy, engineering, mineral and energy resources, agriculture, forestry, business, journalism, social work, education, human resources, parks and recreation, computer science, vocational and home economics, landscape architecture, visual and performing arts, sports and exercise studies, and speech pathology. More than 80 percent of the full-time faculty hold doctorates. The academic calendar is divided into semesters.

All undergraduates take courses in three areas: humanities and fine arts, natural sciences and math, and social sciences. Students must also demonstrate writing ability and complete a class dealing with issues of race, foreign cultures, or gender. The honors program lets select students register early and obtain access to special classes. The university enrolls more than 23,000 students, about half of whom come from outside the state. Campus housing primarily serves freshmen. The university sponsors some 250 extracurricular activities covering a range of interests. More than a fifth of the undergraduates join fraternities and sororities. Varsity sports teams, nicknamed the Mountaineers, compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (except the football team, which participates in Division I-A). School colors are gold and blue.