Fairmont State vs. Carolina University

Comparable Facts

Compare Fairmont State University in Fairmont, WV with Carolina University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fairmont State University is larger than Carolina University based on total student enrollment (3,305 students vs. 880 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fairmont State University is located in Fairmont, WV (Distant Town setting); Carolina University is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Midsize City setting).
• Fairmont State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Carolina University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fairmont State University 14:1; Carolina University 17:1.

Fairmont State vs. Carolina University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairmont State or Carolina University? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fairmont State University than Carolina University ($11,328 vs. $20,412).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairmont State University are 6% lower than at Carolina University ($11,656 vs. $12,400).
• Carolina University is 101.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fairmont State (about $8,867 more per year; $17,575.00 vs. $8,708.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.7% higher at Fairmont State than at Carolina University (about $1,349 more per year; $18,924.00 vs. $17,575.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carolina University than at Fairmont State University (100% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Carolina University students is 39.7% larger than aid received by Fairmont State University students ($11,947 vs. $8,552).

Fairmont State vs. Carolina University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fairmont State or Carolina University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Carolina University and Fairmont State .

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairmont State University 810/1070.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairmont State University 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Fairmont State - Required; Carolina University - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Fairmont State students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Carolina University (3.0).
• Fairmont State has a higher acceptance rate (98.6%) than Carolina University (39.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.8% at Fairmont State vs. 26.5% at Carolina University.

Fairmont State vs. Carolina University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fairmont State and Carolina University? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.