Fairmont State University
Fairmont, West Virginia · Public · 98.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 43/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Fairmont State University scores 43 (Below Benchmark) on the CampusROI scale, driven by a 44.3% completion rate, a 14.9-year payback period, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.689. Average 6-year earnings are $30,500 against a median debt of $21,000 - a combination that leaves graduates financially exposed. The repayment rate at the 3-year mark sits at 58.9%, meaning more than four in ten borrowers are not making progress on their loans three years after entering repayment. Net price averages $9,032, low in absolute terms, but the outcomes data shows that low sticker cost does not translate into strong ROI when fewer than half of enrolled students complete their degree. The bright spots are in health and applied technical fields: Registered Nursing (39 graduates, $77,962 year-one, ROI grade B) and Computer and Information Sciences ($64,975 year-one, ROI grade B) are the standout programs. Business Administration (58 graduates) earns a D-grade ROI at $33,767 year-one and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77. Criminal Justice and Psychology also carry D grades. The aggregate ROI is pulled down by a program mix that skews toward lower-earning fields with moderate debt loads.
How Fairmont State University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score43/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
Fairmont State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,708/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $18,924/yr |
| Average net price | $9,032/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $36,128 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $46,857 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $30,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $223 |
| Estimated payback period | 14.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 44.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,590 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $8,708/year ($18,924/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $9,032/year, or roughly $36,128 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $8,434/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $6,945/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,000, which works out to about $223 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($30,500) and comes to 0.69, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $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 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $8,434 net price per year at Fairmont State - approximately $33,736 over four years if completed on schedule. But only 44.3% of students finish, meaning the average enrolled student bears costs without guarantee of a credential. Low-income students face the steepest risk: non-completion with debt and no degree is the worst financial outcome, and the 58.9% three-year repayment rate signals widespread borrower stress.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $10,505 - slightly higher than the lowest tier. At $10,505 per year and median debt of $21,000, the debt load is evaluated against $30,500 average 6-year earnings.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays just $6,945 - the lowest net price in the income schedule, an unusual inversion that likely reflects merit aid. At under $28,000 total cost over four years for high-income families, the raw cost is very low. The ROI risk for higher-income students is not the cost but the completion rate: starting a degree here with a 44.3% graduation rate is a structural gamble regardless of income.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Fairmont State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $51,968 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $49,055 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $48,858 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $86,071 | B |
| Education, General | $46,625 | C |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $71,751 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $50,343 | D |
| International Relations | $54,360 | D |
| Psychology | $46,235 | D |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $75,569 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is the strongest program at Fairmont State by a wide margin: 39 graduates, $77,962 year-one earnings, $86,071 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.431 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $33,625 is notable - graduates borrow more than in most other programs - but the earnings trajectory justifies it. West Virginia's nursing labor market supports strong starting salaries relative to regional cost of living. This is the clearest value proposition the institution offers.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences shows $64,975 year-one earnings on 9 graduates and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.377 (ROI grade B). The small cohort limits the reliability of these figures, but the directional signal is positive. Median debt of $24,500 is manageable against tech sector starting salaries. Four-year earnings data is not reported by Scorecard for this program at Fairmont State.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration enrolls 58 graduates - the largest cohort at Fairmont State - but delivers D-grade ROI: $33,767 year-one, $51,968 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77. Median debt of $26,000 against $33,767 starting earnings is a difficult hole to climb out of.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice is Fairmont State's second-largest program by graduate count (54) but earns a D grade: $36,179 year-one, $49,055 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.706 with $25,557 median debt. Starting earnings suggest entry-level law enforcement or corrections roles that carry modest wage growth. The 4-year trajectory to $49k is workable but tight against debt service obligations.
Psychology
Psychology earns a D grade at Fairmont State: 33 graduates, $29,307 year-one, $46,235 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.887 with $26,000 median debt. Graduates earning under $30,000 with nearly $26,000 in debt are in a financially stressed position immediately after graduation. Students interested in psychology who plan to pursue licensure or graduate school should model the total cost carefully before enrolling.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 53.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 58.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 47.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 51.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Fairmont State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 98.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 360-510 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 450-560 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 17-23 |
| Enrollment | 2,590 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 34.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,101 |
Fairmont State's 98.6% admission rate means virtually all applicants are accepted. The institution does not publish test score requirements in practice - the SAT and ACT ranges in the Scorecard reflect the distribution of enrolled students, not cutoffs. Students should focus their evaluation on program completion data and post-graduation earnings rather than admission odds, which are not a meaningful signal here.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmont State University (this school) | 43 | $9,032 | $46,857 |
| Wayne State College | 46 | $15,360 | $47,075 |
| Emporia State University | 44 | $16,261 | $47,601 |
| Eastern Oregon University | 43 | $17,148 | $50,112 |
| Concord University | 30 | $9,966 | $42,703 |
| Bluefield State University | 20 | $13,684 | $38,217 |
Who Thrives Here
Fairmont State admits 98.6% of applicants, making selectivity essentially non-existent. SAT mid-ranges run 360-510 Math and 450-560 Reading; ACT composite 17-23. Enrollment is 2,590 students, serving a predominantly West Virginia regional population. Pell grant rate is 34.3%, reflecting a student body with substantial financial need. Students who are confident in completing a nursing, civil engineering technology, or computer science program will find the best outcome-to-cost ratio here. Students considering business, criminal justice, or liberal arts should scrutinize the D-grade ROI data carefully before enrolling.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Fairmont State University scores 43/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $9,032 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $46,857 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 14.9 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: its 44.3% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 58.9% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $21,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $30,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Fairmont State University: Common Questions
Is Fairmont State University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Fairmont State University scores 43/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $9,032 a year after aid against $46,857 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 14.9 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Fairmont State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $9,032 a year, or roughly $36,128 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Fairmont State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $46,857 ten years after enrolling, roughly $5,057 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Fairmont State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 14.9 years for Fairmont State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Fairmont State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,000, against average earnings of $30,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Fairmont State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 44.3%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.