Fairmont State University
Fairmont, WV 26554-2470
About Fairmont State University
Fairmont State University is a public research university in Fairmont, West Virginia, serving roughly 2,590 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 98.62% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $46,857 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Fairmont State University charges 58% above the national public median tuition ($8,708).
- Versus the West Virginia median, sticker tuition is 9% below.
- Average net price runs below the West Virginia median net price.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 44.25%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $46,857.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Fairmont State University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 1197% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmont State University | $8,708 | $9,032 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| West Virginia (state median) | $9,574 | $9,114 | 36 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Fairmont State University really?
Key findings
- Fairmont State University charges 58% above the national public median tuition ($8,708).
- Versus the West Virginia median, sticker tuition is 9% below.
- Average net price runs below the West Virginia median net price.
Fairmont State University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $8,708
Finding Fairmont State University charges 58% above the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $8,708. That is 58% above the national public median ($5,512). Versus the West Virginia median ($9,574), sticker tuition is 9% below. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 27% below.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Fairmont State University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Fairmont State University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Fairmont State University is $9,032.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $9,032 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $82 below the West Virginia median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $5,939 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Fairmont State University, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Fairmont State University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Fairmont State University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$8,708
Out-of-state tuition
$18,924
Avg. net price
$9,032
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $8,434 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $8,679 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $10,505 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $11,184 |
| $110,001+ | $6,945 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $34,832. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Fairmont State University is known for
Top program completions
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse197
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies87
- Business Administration and Management, General80
- Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching57
- National Security Policy Studies53
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 34% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 996
- Midpoint ACT: 20
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Fairmont State University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Fairmont State University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Fairmont State University.
Campus
Location
Fairmont, WV
City / state
- ZIP
- 26554-2470
- NCES locale
- Town distant
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 40% below the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus
Size
Enrollment
2,590
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 3,374
- Graduate
- 217
- Full-time share
- 88%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$21,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 34.29%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Fairmont State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Fairmont State University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Fairmont State University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $5,824 | $12,288 | $8,971 |
| 2014 | $6,306 | $13,306 | $8,756 |
| 2015 | $6,620 | $13,970 | $8,550 |
| 2016 | $6,950 | $14,666 | $10,220 |
| 2017 | $6,950 | $14,666 | $10,379 |
| 2018 | $7,514 | $16,324 | $10,368 |
| 2019 | $7,738 | $16,814 | $10,161 |
| 2020 | $7,738 | $16,814 | $11,326 |
| 2021 | $7,892 | $17,150 | $11,884 |
| 2022 | $8,008 | $17,836 | $10,794 |
| 2023 | $8,454 | $18,372 | $9,055 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 996 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 20 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Fairmont State University reported total enrollment of about 2,590 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 43% male and 57% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (86.4%), Black or African American (5.6%), and Two or More Races (5.0%). About 34.29% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 41.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
88.3% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Fairmont State University in 2024 is 2,590 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 3,374 students. Graduate enrollment is about 217 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
67.4%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
37.45% 100% Completion Time
44.25% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 37.45% of students graduating from Fairmont State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 17% male / 83% female
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 63% male / 37% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 62% male / 38% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Fairmont State University graduates earn a median of $46,857 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Fairmont State University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $46,857. Median federal loan debt: $21,000. Average net price used in cost models: $9,032.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Fairmont State University graduates report median earnings of $46,857 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Fairmont State University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (41 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Fairmont State University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Fairmont State University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Fairmont State University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$30M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- West Virginia median 2.6× the median ($11.7M)
- Southeast median 1.5× the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($26.4M)
- West Virginia median 1.1× the median ($9,559)
- Southeast median 1.1× the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 0.87× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 91.7%
- West Virginia median 32.9 pp above median (58.7%)
- Southeast median 32.2 pp above median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 33.7 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $7,101
- West Virginia median 1.1× the median ($6,342)
- Southeast median near the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median 0.93× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,719
- West Virginia median 1.2× the median ($7,346)
- Southeast median 1.3× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Fairmont State University at a glance
Fairmont State University
Fairmont State University is a public institution in Fairmont, WV, classified as Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Registered Nursing/Registered NurseCriminal Justice/Safety StudiesBusiness Administration and Management, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian86.4%Black or African American5.6%Two or More Races5.0%
Schools near Fairmont State University
Other campuses in Fairmont, WV when available, plus nearby institutions in West Virginia.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within West Virginia, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Fairmont State University located?
Fairmont State University is located in Fairmont, WV.
What is Fairmont State University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Fairmont State University is 98.6% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 1,979 applicants and 1,964 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Fairmont State University's tuition?
Fairmont State University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $8,708 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $9,032 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Fairmont State University cost?
Reported tuition is $8,708 and average net price is $9,032 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $11,656 annually.
What explains Fairmont State University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($9,032), completion (44.2% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($46,857). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Fairmont State University?
Fairmont State University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 3,374 students, White (86.4%), Black or African American (5.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Fairmont State University?
About 41.4% of students at Fairmont State University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Fairmont State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Fairmont State University reports midpoint SAT about 996 and midpoint ACT about 20.
What do graduates of Fairmont State University earn?
Median earnings are $41,197 six years after entry and $46,857 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Fairmont State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 44.2% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Fairmont State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $21,000.
Is Fairmont State University public or private?
Fairmont State University is a public institution located in Fairmont, WV.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- West Virginia college profile
- West Virginia college costs
- West Virginia colleges by ROI
- West Virginia University vs Marshall University vs Fairmont State University
- Fairmont, West Virginia city profile
- Southeast regional profile
- Town college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in West Virginia
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.