Alderson Broaddus University, which closed in 2023, had a long and changing history. It started in 1871 in Virginia as a small Baptist school for girls and later moved to Philippi, becoming Broaddus College. A separate school, Alderson Academy, began in 1901 in Alderson. In 1932, during the Great Depression, the two schools merged to become Alderson-Broaddus College, in Philippi.

The school grew after World War II, especially under the leadership of President Richard Shearer (1950–1983). It became known for its health science programs, including the first four-year nursing program in West Virginia and the first bachelor’s degree for physician assistants in the U.S.

In 2013, its name was changed to Alderson Broaddus University. In the early 2020s, the university struggled with money problems and low enrollment. By 2023, it owed over $775,000 in unpaid utility bills. The state Higher Education Policy Commission voted to revoke the school’s right to give degrees and stop enrolling new students. In response, the university closed and filed for bankruptcy that summer, ending more than 150 years of history. Students were helped to transfer to other schools.