Kent State University at Salem vs. Fairmont State

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

Kent State University at Salem Fairmont State
Location Salem, OH Fairmont, WV
Setting Rural Fringe Distant Town
Enrollment 1,315 3,498
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #979
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website kent.edu fairmontstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Kent State University at Salem Fairmont State
Tuition (In State) $6,962 $6,022
Tuition (Out of State) $16,068 $15,638
Room & Board $8,882 $10,022
Avg Net Price $10,324 $10,794
Avg Grant Aid $5,185 $6,547
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 94%

Admission

Kent State University at Salem Fairmont State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 1,926
Admitted - 1,897
Acceptance Rate Open 98.5%
Enrolled % Open 37%
Avg High School GPA 3.27 3.36
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/23
SAT Range 820/1050
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Kent State University at Salem Fairmont State
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (50%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)

Outcomes

Kent State University at Salem Fairmont State
Graduation Rate 19% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,300 $37,600
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,825 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $267 $227

Diversity

Kent State University at Salem Fairmont State
% Men 28% 41%
% Women 72% 59%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 88% 86%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 2% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Kent State University at Salem Fairmont State
% In-State 100% 88%
% Out-of-State 0% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Fairmont State University is larger than than Kent State University at Salem based on total student enrollment (3,498 students vs. 1,315 students)

Kent State University at Salem vs. Fairmont State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kent State University at Salem or Fairmont State ?

  • Kent State University at Salem is 15.6% more expensive to attend than Fairmont State for in-state tuition ($6,962.00 vs. $6,022.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.7% higher at Kent State University at Salem than Fairmont State University ($16,068.00 vs. $15,638.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kent State University at Salem than Fairmont State ($10,324 vs. $10,794)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kent State University at Salem are 12.8% lower than costs at Fairmont State University ($8,882 vs. $10,022)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairmont State University than Kent State University at Salem (94% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fairmont State University students is 26.3% larger than aid received Kent State University at Salem ($6,547 vs. $5,185)

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

  • Accepted freshman Fairmont State students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Kent State University at Salem (3.27)

Kent State University at Salem vs. Fairmont State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Kent State University at Salem 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 Kent State University at Salem.

  • The graduation rate at Fairmont State is higher than Kent State University at Salem (33% vs. 19%)
  • Graduates from Kent State University at Salem earn on average $2,700 more per year than Fairmont State graduates after ten years. ($40,300 vs. $37,600)
  • Fairmont State University students graduate with a $3,825 lower median federal student loan debt than Kent State University at Salem graduates. ($22,000 vs. $25,825)
  • Fairmont State graduates are paying $40 less per month on federal student loans than Kent State University at Salem graduates. ($227 vs. $267)
  • More Kent State University at Salem graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fairmont State students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 43%)

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