Cleveland State vs. Fairmont State

Should I go to Cleveland State University or Fairmont State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cleveland State 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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Cleveland State University vs. Fairmont State University comparison
Cleveland State University Fairmont State University College 3 College 4
Cleveland State University Fairmont State University
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Overview

 Cleveland State Fairmont State
Location Cleveland, OH Fairmont, WV
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 14,385 3,498
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #769 #979
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csuohio.edu fairmontstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Cleveland State Fairmont State
Tuition (In State) $12,144 $6,022
Tuition (Out of State) $17,359 $15,638
Room & Board $14,197 $10,022
Avg Net Price $15,719 $10,794
Avg Grant Aid $9,436 $6,547
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 94%

Admission

 Cleveland State Fairmont State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,570 1,926
Admitted 9,872 1,897
Acceptance Rate 85.3% 98.5%
Enrolled % 16.8% 37%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.36
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/25 18/23
SAT Range 880/1130 820/1050
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 Cleveland State Fairmont State
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)

Outcomes

 Cleveland State Fairmont State
Graduation Rate 30% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,200 $37,600
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $227

Diversity

 Cleveland State Fairmont State
% Men 46% 41%
% Women 54% 59%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 64% 86%
% Black 17% 5%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 5% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 Cleveland State Fairmont State
% In-State 85% 88%
% Out-of-State 7% 11%

Campus

 Cleveland State 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

  • Cleveland State University is larger than than Fairmont State based on total student enrollment (14,385 students vs. 3,498 students)

Cleveland State vs. Fairmont State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cleveland State or Fairmont State ?

  • Cleveland State University is 101.7% more expensive to attend than Fairmont State for in-state tuition ($12,144.00 vs. $6,022.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11% higher at Cleveland State than Fairmont State University ($17,359.00 vs. $15,638.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fairmont State University than Cleveland State ($10,794 vs. $15,719)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairmont State University are 41.7% lower than costs at Cleveland State University ($10,022 vs. $14,197)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairmont State University than Cleveland State University (94% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cleveland State University students is 44.1% larger than aid received Fairmont State University ($9,436 vs. $6,547)

Cleveland State vs. Fairmont State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Cleveland State University (1028) is 66 points higher than at Fairmont State (962)
  • Incoming Cleveland State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Fairmont State (21)
  • Accepted freshman Fairmont State students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Cleveland State (3.31)
  • Fairmont State has a higher acceptance rate (98.5%) than Cleveland State (85.3%)

Cleveland State vs. Fairmont State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cleveland State 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 Cleveland State.

  • The graduation rate at Fairmont State is higher than Cleveland State University (33% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Cleveland State University earn on average $6,600 more per year than Fairmont State graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $37,600)
  • Cleveland State University students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairmont State graduates. ($21,500 vs. $22,000)
  • Cleveland State graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Fairmont State graduates. ($222 vs. $227)
  • More Cleveland State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fairmont State students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 43%)

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