Fairmont State University
Fairmont State University is a public research university in Fairmont, West Virginia, serving roughly 2,590 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 98.62% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $46,857 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $8,708
- 2024 Average Net Price: $9,032 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 98.62% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 2,590 88.3% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 44.25%
- Average SAT Score: 996
Fairmont State University: what the data shows
Common questions about Fairmont State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Fairmont State University?
Fairmont State University is located in Fairmont, WV (ZIP 26554-2470).
NCES locale classification: Town distant.
Is Fairmont State University public or private?
Fairmont State University is a Public institution.
How much does Fairmont State University cost?
Published tuition: $8,708 in-state, $18,924 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $9,032.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $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.
How hard is it to get into Fairmont State University?
Admission rate: 98.62%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 996 and midpoint ACT 20.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Fairmont State University?
Total enrollment: 2,590 students.
About 88% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Fairmont State University?
150%-time completion rate: 44.25%.
First-year retention: 67.4%.
What do graduates of Fairmont State University earn?
Median earnings: $41,197 six years after entry; $46,857 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $21,000.
34.29% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Fairmont State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (917 completions)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research (197 completions)
- Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration (87 completions)
- CIP 520201 (80 completions)
- CIP 131203 (57 completions)
- CIP 450902 (53 completions)
- Agricultural Business and Management (41 completions)
- CIP 310505 (41 completions)
- CIP 240102 (38 completions)
- General Psychology (34 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Fairmont State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 98.62%; completion rate 44.25%; median earnings $46,857 at 10 years; net price $9,032. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$8,708
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Fairmont State University was $8,708.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$9,032
2024 Value
In 2024 Fairmont State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $9,032.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$36,128 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$9,032 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$34,832 4-Year In-State Tuition
$75,696 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Fairmont State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
34.29% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
39.26% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
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.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
98.62% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 996
ACT Average: 20
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
88.3% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Fairmont State University in 2024 is 2,590 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.
Graduates & Outcomes
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.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Fairmont State University.
Return on Investment
$21,000 Median Student Debt
$46,857 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
44.82% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
1196.97% Return on Investment
4.5 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Fairmont State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 197 completions
Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration: 87 completions
CIP 52.0201: 80 completions
CIP 13.1203: 57 completions
CIP 45.0902: 53 completions
Agricultural Business and Management: 41 completions
CIP 31.0505: 41 completions
CIP 24.0102: 38 completions
General Psychology: 34 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 917 completions
Most popular programs at Fairmont State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Fairmont State University graduates.
About
Fairmont State University is a public institution located in Fairmont, WV, offering 41 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 2,590 students. The admission rate is 98.62%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 996. The institution maintains a 44.25% graduation rate. Approximately 34.29% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Public
Location
Fairmont, WV 26554-2470
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Fairmont State University provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
FAQ
How much does Fairmont State University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $8,708 and average net price is $9,032 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Fairmont State University?
The admission rate is 98.6% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
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.
How big is Fairmont State University?
Total enrollment is about 2,590 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Fairmont State University public or private?
Fairmont State University is a public institution located in Fairmont, WV.
Is Fairmont State University an HBCU?
No. Fairmont State University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Fairmont State University a tribal college?
No. Fairmont State University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Fairmont State University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Fairmont State University does not meet that proxy (reported share 0.2%).
Is Fairmont State University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Fairmont State University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
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
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 for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.