Black Hills State University vs. Fairmont State

Should I go to Black Hills State University or Fairmont State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Black Hills State University or Fairmont State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Black Hills State University vs. Fairmont State University comparison
Black Hills State University Fairmont State University College 3 College 4
Black Hills State University Fairmont State University
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Overview

 Black Hills State University Fairmont State
Location Spearfish, SD Fairmont, WV
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 3,425 3,498
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1006 #979
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bhsu.edu fairmontstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Black Hills State University Fairmont State
Tuition (In State) $7,700 $6,022
Tuition (Out of State) $10,800 $15,638
Room & Board $7,528 $10,022
Avg Net Price $16,782 $10,794
Avg Grant Aid $4,986 $6,547
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

 Black Hills State University Fairmont State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,579 1,926
Admitted 1,526 1,897
Acceptance Rate 96.6% 98.5%
Enrolled % 31.5% 37%
Avg High School GPA 3.22 3.36
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 18/23
SAT Range 970/1085 820/1050
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline

Academics

 Black Hills State University Fairmont State
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)

Outcomes

 Black Hills State University Fairmont State
Graduation Rate 28% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,800 $37,600
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,478 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $263 $227

Diversity

 Black Hills State University Fairmont State
% Men 37% 41%
% Women 63% 59%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 83% 86%
% Black 2% 5%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 4% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

 Black Hills State University Fairmont State
% In-State 57% 88%
% Out-of-State 42% 11%

Campus

 Black Hills State University Fairmont State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Fairmont State University is larger than than Black Hills State University based on total student enrollment (3,498 students vs. 3,425 students)

Black Hills State University vs. Fairmont State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Black Hills State University or Fairmont State ?

  • Black Hills State University is 27.9% more expensive to attend than Fairmont State for in-state tuition ($7,700.00 vs. $6,022.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 44.8% higher at Fairmont State than Black Hills State University ($15,638.00 vs. $10,800.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fairmont State University than Black Hills State University ($10,794 vs. $16,782)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Black Hills State University are 33.1% lower than costs at Fairmont State University ($7,528 vs. $10,022)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Black Hills State University than Fairmont State University (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fairmont State University students is 31.3% larger than aid received Black Hills State University ($6,547 vs. $4,986)

Black Hills State University vs. Fairmont State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Black Hills State University or Fairmont State ? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Fairmont State or Black Hills State University .

  • The average SAT score at Black Hills State University (988) is 26 points higher than at Fairmont State (962)
  • Incoming Black Hills State University students have at the same average ACT score (21) as students at Fairmont State (21)
  • Accepted freshman Fairmont State students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Black Hills State University (3.22)
  • Fairmont State has a higher acceptance rate (98.5%) than Black Hills State University (96.6%)

Black Hills State University vs. Fairmont State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Black Hills State University or Fairmont State ? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Fairmont State and Black Hills State University.

  • The graduation rate at Fairmont State is higher than Black Hills State University (33% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from Black Hills State University earn on average $1,200 more per year than Fairmont State graduates after ten years. ($38,800 vs. $37,600)
  • Fairmont State University students graduate with a $3,478 lower median federal student loan debt than Black Hills State University graduates. ($22,000 vs. $25,478)
  • Fairmont State graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than Black Hills State University graduates. ($227 vs. $263)
  • More Black Hills State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fairmont State students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 43%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/