Hood vs. Fairmont State

Comparable Facts

Compare Hood College in Frederick, MD with Fairmont State University in Fairmont, WV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fairmont State University is larger than Hood based on total student enrollment (3,305 students vs. 2,101 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hood College is located in Frederick, MD (Small City setting); Fairmont State University is in Fairmont, WV (Distant Town setting).
• Hood College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Fairmont State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Hood College 10:1; Fairmont State University 14:1.

Hood vs. Fairmont State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hood or Fairmont State ? 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 Hood ($11,328 vs. $23,350).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairmont State University are 28% lower than at Hood College ($11,656 vs. $16,200).
• Hood College is 447.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fairmont State (about $38,992 more per year; $47,700.00 vs. $8,708.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 152.1% higher at Hood than at Fairmont State University (about $28,776 more per year; $47,700.00 vs. $18,924.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hood College than at Fairmont State University (100% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hood College students is 343.8% larger than aid received by Fairmont State University students ($37,957 vs. $8,552).

Hood vs. Fairmont State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hood or Fairmont State ? 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 Fairmont State and Hood.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsFairmont State University 810/1070.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsFairmont State University 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hood - Test-free; Fairmont State - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Hood Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Hood students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Fairmont State (3.36).
• Fairmont State has a higher acceptance rate (98.6%) than Hood (77.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12% at Hood vs. 33.8% at Fairmont State .

Hood vs. Fairmont State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hood and Fairmont State ? 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).

• Hood College's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Fairmont State University's (33%).
• Graduates from Hood College earn a median of about $9,700 more per year than Fairmont State graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,300 vs. $37,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fairmont State University graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than Hood graduates ($22,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Fairmont State graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hood graduates ($227 vs. $279).
• More Hood graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fairmont State students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 43%)

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.