Potomac State College of West Virginia University, located in Keyser, was founded in 1901 as a branch of WVU. It started as a preparatory school and became a junior college in 1921, offering two-year degrees.

The school moved to its current campus on Fort Hill, a historic Civil War site. Over time, it added programs in agriculture, business, criminal justice, and more. In 1951, Potomac received its current name and became a regional WVU campus.

In 2024, two programs—recreation, parks, and tourism resources, and wood science and technology—were closed due to WVU’s academic cutbacks. Notable former students include Henry Louis Gates Jr., John Kruk, and Admiral Joseph Lopez.