Fairmont State vs. Marshall University

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

Fairmont State Marshall University
Location Fairmont, WV Huntington, WV
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 3,498 10,691
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #979 #813
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairmontstate.edu marshall.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairmont State Marshall University
Tuition (In State) $6,022 $7,190
Tuition (Out of State) $15,638 $18,244
Room & Board $10,022 $11,840
Avg Net Price $10,794 $8,756
Avg Grant Aid $6,547 $11,221
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 96%

Admission

Fairmont State Marshall University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,926 6,356
Admitted 1,897 6,158
Acceptance Rate 98.5% 96.9%
Enrolled % 37% 25.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.68
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/23 19/25
SAT Range 820/1050 930/1150
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 10, 2025

Academics

Fairmont State Marshall University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Fairmont State Marshall University
Graduation Rate 33% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,600 $40,200
Making Student Loan Payments 43% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,000 $23,134
Median Loan Payment $227 $239

Diversity

Fairmont State Marshall University
% Men 41% 40%
% Women 59% 60%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 86% 84%
% Black 5% 7%
% Hispanic 2% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Fairmont State Marshall University
% In-State 88% 79%
% Out-of-State 11% 20%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Marshall University is larger than than Fairmont State based on total student enrollment (10,691 students vs. 3,498 students)

Fairmont State vs. Marshall University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairmont State or Marshall University?

  • Marshall University is 19.4% more expensive to attend than Fairmont State for in-state tuition ($7,190.00 vs. $6,022.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.7% higher at Marshall University than Fairmont State University ($18,244.00 vs. $15,638.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Marshall University than Fairmont State ($8,756 vs. $10,794)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairmont State University are 18.1% lower than costs at Marshall University ($10,022 vs. $11,840)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Marshall University than Fairmont State University (96% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Marshall University students is 71.4% larger than aid received Fairmont State University ($11,221 vs. $6,547)

Fairmont State vs. Marshall University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Marshall University (1028) is 66 points higher than at Fairmont State (962)
  • Incoming Marshall University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Fairmont State (21)
  • Accepted freshman Marshall University students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Fairmont State (3.36)
  • Fairmont State has a higher acceptance rate (98.5%) than Marshall University (96.9%)

Fairmont State vs. Marshall University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fairmont State or Marshall University? 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 Marshall University and Fairmont State .

  • The graduation rate at Marshall University is higher than Fairmont State University (44% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Marshall University earn on average $2,600 more per year than Fairmont State graduates after ten years. ($40,200 vs. $37,600)
  • Fairmont State University students graduate with a $1,134 lower median federal student loan debt than Marshall University graduates. ($22,000 vs. $23,134)
  • Fairmont State graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than Marshall University graduates. ($227 vs. $239)
  • More Fairmont State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Marshall University students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 43%)

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