Marshall University, located in Huntington, West Virginia, is known for its resilient football program, its top-ranked forensic science graduate program, and the enduring legacy of the 1970 plane crash that killed 75 players, coaches, and fans. Beyond that defining moment, the university has built a reputation as a high-research institution with strong health sciences programs and a growing aviation school.
The 1970 Plane Crash and Its Legacy
On November 14, 1970, a chartered DC-9 airliner crashed into a hillside near Tri-State Airport, killing all 75 passengers and crew. The dead included nearly the entire Marshall football team, all but one of their coaches, and several fans traveling home from an away game. It remains one of the deadliest disasters in American sports history.
The tragedy permanently shaped the university’s identity. A bronze-and-copper fountain on campus sends 75 separate jets of water into the air, one for each victim, and serves as the centerpiece of annual memorial ceremonies. The story reached a national audience through the 2006 film “We Are Marshall,” which chronicled how the university rebuilt its football program from almost nothing. In 2023, Marshall and the Marshall 75 Family Alumni Chapter created the 75 Legacy Scholarship Fund, offering full scholarships to descendants of the crash victims.
Football Championships and Athletic Success
Marshall’s football program didn’t just survive the crash. It became one of the most dominant programs in college football during the 1990s. The Thundering Herd won two NCAA Division I-AA national championships, starting with a 31-28 victory over Youngstown State in 1992 for the school’s first football title. Over the full decade, Marshall won more football games than any other Division I-A or I-AA team, going 114-25. From 1996 through 1999, the team posted a 50-4 record, a .926 winning percentage.
After moving up to the Mid-American Conference, Marshall continued to win, capturing six conference titles and five bowl championships during its eight years in the MAC. The program’s rise from tragedy to national prominence is a core part of the university’s public identity.
Top-Ranked Forensic Science Program
Marshall’s forensic science graduate program is one of the university’s strongest academic calling cards. It has been ranked number one on the Forensic Science Assessment Test (the national board exam administered by the American Board of Criminalistics) in 13 of the last 15 years. Best Value Schools ranked it the number four master’s program in forensic science nationally in 2023, and it is one of only 21 graduate programs in the country accredited by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC).
Graduate students choose from four areas of emphasis: DNA analysis, forensic chemistry, digital forensics, and crime scene investigation. Students can complete more than one emphasis during their time in the program, giving them flexibility to specialize broadly across the field.
Health Sciences and Research
Marshall holds a Carnegie R2 classification, meaning it is recognized for high research spending and doctorate production. The university’s total research spending sits at roughly $33.7 million, with $21.9 million of that concentrated in the life sciences. Engineering research accounts for another $5.2 million.
The university operates its own School of Medicine and School of Pharmacy, both of which contribute to the life sciences research footprint. These programs have helped position Marshall as a regional anchor for healthcare education and workforce development in Appalachia, where access to medical professionals is a persistent challenge.
Aviation and Emerging Programs
Marshall has invested heavily in aviation training through the Bill Noe Flight School, which operates across three airport locations in West Virginia. The school flies a fleet of Cirrus SR20 aircraft and uses advanced simulators to train students in the professional pilot program, covering aeronautics, navigation, flight control systems, and commercial aviation regulations.
A separate Aviation Maintenance Technology program, run in collaboration with Mountwest Community and Technical College, trains students to inspect, service, and repair aircraft of all sizes. Students can complete the degree in 24 months and earn FAA airframe and powerplant maintenance certifications along the way. On the cybersecurity side, the Marshall University Institute for Cyber Security has partnered with DroneTrace to advance drone security research and expand aviation-related cyber training, connecting the university’s aviation and technology programs.