Fairmont State University vs Blue Ridge Community and Technical College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Fairmont State University comes closer — median earnings $46,857 against a $36,128 total, vs $39,293 at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fairmont State University | Blue Ridge Community and Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,032 | $4,641 |
| Total net cost | $36,128 | $9,282 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,857 | $39,293 |
| Median debt | $21,000 | $13,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$66,188 | -$190,622 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Fairmont State University or Blue Ridge Community and Technical College?
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, at $4,641 a year after aid versus $9,032 — a gap of $4,391 a year, or $26,846 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Fairmont State University or Blue Ridge Community and Technical College graduates earn more?
Fairmont State University graduates report a median $46,857 ten years after entry, $7,564 more than the $39,293 at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Fairmont State University or Blue Ridge Community and Technical College?
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College: its completers carry a median $13,000 in federal loans versus $21,000 at Fairmont State University, a difference of $8,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
44% of students finish at Fairmont State University, against 32% at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.