Fairmont State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Fairmont State University charges a net price of $9,032/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $36,128. Median earnings ten years after entry are $46,857, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Fairmont State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #8 of 30 West Virginia colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $9,032/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $36,128 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $46,857 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$1,503/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $21,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$66,188 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Fairmont State University's own numbers. Net price $9,032 × 4 years = $36,128 total. Median earnings $46,857 fall $1,503 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $36,128 bill in about 3.6 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Fairmont State University students graduate with?
A median $21,000 in federal loans among completers, or 45% of the $46,857 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Fairmont State University students graduate?
44% finish their degree — 56% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $36,128 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $82,109 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Fairmont State University expensive compared with other West Virginia colleges?
Its $9,032 net price runs $1,698 below the $10,730 median across the 30 West Virginia colleges we profile, and $6,792 less across the full degree.