Fairmont, West Virginia Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Fairmont, West Virginia: median public in-state tuition $7,235 (+31.3% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $46,857 (-13.8% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 87.2% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $16,555 (+24.8% vs U.S.) 3,549 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 3,549 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $7,235 (+31.3% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $46,857 (-13.8% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 87.2% (-0.7 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $8,678 (-12.9% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $16,555 (+24.7% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,456
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 44.2%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 67.4%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Fairmont serve students across West Virginia with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 3,549 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $7,235. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Fairmont, West Virginia and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Fairmont vs West Virginia & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmont, West Virginia | $7,235 | $8,678 | $16,555 | 44.2% | 3,549 |
| West Virginia (state median) | $7,112 | $9,114 | $13,000 | 45.0% | 99,042 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Fairmont, West Virginia vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmont, West Virginia | $46,857 | 87.2% | 67.4% | 13.6% | — | 58.9% | 0.45 |
| West Virginia (state median) | $44,460 | 87.2% | 65.2% | 10.4% | — | 61.7% | 0.50 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in West Virginia (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmont, West Virginia | $7,235 | $8,678 | $16,555 | 44.2% | 3,549 | $46,857 | 87.2% |
| Charles Town | $9,240 | $11,886 | $21,743 | 78.6% | 40,190 | $44,409 | 75.7% |
| Morgantown | $12,451 | $15,520 | $9,690 | 67.9% | 18,261 | $55,939 | 87.2% |
| Huntington | $9,162 | $8,083 | $21,604 | 51.2% | 8,769 | $46,354 | 87.7% |
| Martinsburg | $4,752 | $11,529 | $9,500 | 66.4% | 2,611 | N/A | N/A |
| Charleston | $33,800 | $17,821 | $9,500 | 45.6% | 2,571 | $55,774 | 83.1% |
| Charleston | $33,800 | $17,821 | $9,500 | 45.6% | 2,571 | $55,774 | 83.1% |
| Parkersburg | $4,612 | $2,028 | $12,570 | 9.1% | 1,899 | N/A | N/A |
| Wheeling | $17,290 | $12,916 | $17,685 | 23.3% | 1,603 | $57,949 | 93.1% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Fairmont, West Virginia by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 44.2%, Fairmont State University
Fairmont State University
Top college in Fairmont, West Virginia by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 87.2%, Fairmont State University
Fairmont State University
Most selective college in Fairmont, West Virginia (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 98.6%, Fairmont State University
Fairmont State University
Top college in Fairmont, West Virginia by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $77,962, Fairmont State University
Fairmont State University
Top college in Fairmont, West Virginia by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $86,071, Fairmont State University
Fairmont State University
Top college in Fairmont, West Virginia by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $41,197, Fairmont State University
Fairmont State University
Top college in Fairmont, West Virginia by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $42,893, Fairmont State University
Fairmont State University
Top college in Fairmont, West Virginia by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $46,857, Fairmont State University
Fairmont State University
Top college in Fairmont, West Virginia by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $172,707, Fairmont State University
Fairmont State University
Most affordable college in Fairmont, West Virginia (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $9,032, Fairmont State University
Fairmont State University
Top college in Fairmont, West Virginia by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 67.4%, Fairmont State University
Fairmont State University
In-state tuition: Fairmont, West Virginia vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Fairmont, West Virginia median in-state tuition is $7,235, +31.3% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Fairmont, West Virginia vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Fairmont, West Virginia is $16,555 (+24.8% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): Fairmont, West Virginia vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Fairmont, West Virginia center around $46,857 (-13.8% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Fairmont, West Virginia vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 87.2% at the median Fairmont, West Virginia campus (-0.7 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Fairmont, West Virginia median public in-state tuition is $7,235, about +31.3% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +44.9%.
Median graduate debt is $16,555 (+24.8% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Fairmont, West Virginia are $46,857, about -13.8% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 87.2% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-0.7 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 67.4% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 13.6% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 58.9% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Fairmont State University (87.2%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Fairmont, West Virginia is 44.2% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Fairmont?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Fairmont, West Virginia with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Fairmont?
Median in-state tuition in Fairmont is $7,235 and median net price is $8,678. For West Virginia overall, medians are $7,112 and $9,114; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Fairmont?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Fairmont is $46,857 vs $44,460 for West Virginia and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Fairmont colleges?
Median completer debt in Fairmont is $16,555 vs $13,000 for West Virginia and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Fairmont?
Top campuses on this page include Fairmont State University (graduation) and Fairmont State University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Fairmont?
Among 2 College Scorecard campuses in Fairmont, West Virginia, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- West Virginia college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON