Jackson State University vs. Fairmont State

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

Jackson State University Fairmont State
Location Jackson, MS Fairmont, WV
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 6,564 3,307
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #974 #947
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website jsums.edu fairmontstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Jackson State University Fairmont State
Tuition (In State) $8,815 $6,468
Tuition (Out of State) $8,815 $16,174
Room & Board $11,782 $11,486
Avg Net Price $19,892 $10,993
Avg Grant Aid $8,133 $7,034
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 92%

Admission

Jackson State University Fairmont State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,141 1,979
Admitted 12,873 1,964
Acceptance Rate 91% 99.2%
Enrolled % 7.6% 34.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 3.36
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20 17/23
SAT Range 850/1080 830/1040
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2026

Academics

Jackson State University Fairmont State
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)

Outcomes

Jackson State University Fairmont State
Graduation Rate 40% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,800 $37,600
Making Student Loan Payments 36% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $29,000 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $299 $227

Diversity

Jackson State University Fairmont State
% Men 7% 3%
% Women 20% 5%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Very Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 4% 86%
% Black 92% 5%
% Hispanic 0% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Jackson State University Fairmont State
% In-State 30% 87%
% Out-of-State 69% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Jackson State University is larger than than Fairmont State based on total student enrollment (6,564 students vs. 3,307 students)

Jackson State University vs. Fairmont State Cost Comparison

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

  • Jackson State University is 36.3% more expensive to attend than Fairmont State for in-state tuition ($8,815.00 vs. $6,468.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 83.5% higher at Fairmont State than Jackson State University ($16,174.00 vs. $8,815.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fairmont State University than Jackson State University ($10,993 vs. $19,892)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairmont State University are 2.6% lower than costs at Jackson State University ($11,486 vs. $11,782)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Jackson State University as Fairmont State University (92% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Jackson State University students is 15.6% larger than aid received Fairmont State University ($8,133 vs. $7,034)

Jackson State University vs. Fairmont State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Jackson 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 Jackson State University .

  • The average SAT score at Fairmont State University (962) is 52 points higher than at Jackson State University (910)
  • Incoming Fairmont State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Jackson State University (19)
  • Accepted freshman Fairmont State students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Jackson State University (3.1)
  • Fairmont State has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than Jackson State University (91%)

Jackson State University vs. Fairmont State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Jackson 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 Jackson State University.

  • The graduation rate at Jackson State University is higher than Fairmont State University (40% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Fairmont State University earn on average $4,800 more per year than Jackson State University graduates after ten years. ($37,600 vs. $32,800)
  • Fairmont State University students graduate with a $7,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Jackson State University graduates. ($22,000 vs. $29,000)
  • Fairmont State graduates are paying $72 less per month on federal student loans than Jackson State University graduates. ($227 vs. $299)
  • More Fairmont State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jackson State University students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 36%)

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