Fairmont State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Fairmont, West Virginia. It enrolls 2,590 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes20
Value92
Affordability74
Selectivity6
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 98.6%, Fairmont State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
98.6%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
810 – 1070
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
17 – 23
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyRequiredSAT or ACT scores must be submitted with the application.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Fairmont State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
13.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Fairmont State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $9,032 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$9,032
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
34%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
39%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$8,708
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$18,924
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,656
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,656
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,000
Total Cost of Attendance
$20,018
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$8,434
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,679
$48,001 – $75,000
$10,505
$75,001 – $110,000
$11,184
Over $110,000
$6,945
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$21,000Medianpercentile
$24,34575%percentile
$33,49590%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,568
↓ $6,432
No Pell $10,250
↓ $10,750
Dependent students $12,000
↓ $9,000
Independent students $16,182
↓ $4,818
Female students $12,500
↓ $8,500
Male students $12,500
↓ $8,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($21,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
41% of full-time students who enrolled at Fairmont State University graduate within six years, and 66% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
41%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
66%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Fairmont State University earn a median of $46,857 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$46,857
Earning > $25K
73%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$30,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$47,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$33,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$44,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $16,800, about 35% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
17.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 72% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Fairmont State University is home to 2,590 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 41% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,590
Part-Time
12%
First-Generation
41%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 86.4%2,238
Black 5.6%144
Other 5.4%139
International 1.3%33
Asian 0.5%13
Hispanic 0.2%6
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Fairmont State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantFairmont, West Virginia
Housing
Mostly residential1,050 beds on campus
Adult Learners
13%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Fairmont State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
48 distinct programs across
22 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Fairmont State University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,040
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$30M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$63,749
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
143 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
30
21%
$77,357
Associate Professors
28
20%
$71,873
Assistant Professors
78
55%
$59,719
Instructors
7
5%
$49,286
Pros & Cons of Fairmont State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Fairmont State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Fairmont State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fairmont State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Fairmont State University.
Is Fairmont State University hard to get into?
Fairmont State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 98.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at Fairmont State University?
Fairmont State University has an acceptance rate of 98.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Fairmont State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Fairmont State University scored between 810 and 1070 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Fairmont State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Fairmont State University scored between 17 and 23 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Fairmont State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Fairmont State University is $9,032 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Fairmont State University worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $46,857 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $9,032 per year. That's roughly 5.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Fairmont State University known for?
Fairmont State University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Business Administration, Criminal Justice. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Fairmont State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Fairmont State University are $46,857, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Fairmont State University accredited?
Yes. Fairmont State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Fairmont State University?
Fairmont State University enrolls 2,590 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Fairmont State University?
Fairmont State University graduates 41% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Fairmont State University a public or private college?
Fairmont State University is a Public institution.
Where is Fairmont State University located?
Fairmont State University is located in Fairmont, West Virginia.
What programs does Fairmont State University offer?
Fairmont State University offers 48 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Business Administration, Criminal Justice.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Fairmont State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Fairmont State University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in West Virginia
Other colleges in West Virginia share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
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Completion
College outcomes
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Rankings That Feature Fairmont State University
Fairmont State University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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