Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. Fairmont State

Comparable Facts

Compare Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster, PA 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (3,305 students vs. 414 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is located in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting); Fairmont State University is in Fairmont, WV (Distant Town setting).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Fairmont State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1; Fairmont State University 14:1.

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. Fairmont State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($11,328 vs. $28,826).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairmont State University are 32.4% lower than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($11,656 vs. $17,230).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is 269.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fairmont State (about $23,442 more per year; $32,150.00 vs. $8,708.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 69.9% higher at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Fairmont State University (about $13,226 more per year; $32,150.00 vs. $18,924.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Fairmont State University (100% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students is 75.3% larger than aid received by Fairmont State University students ($14,989 vs. $8,552).

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. Fairmont State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

• 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: Pennsylvania College of Art and Design - Test-free; Fairmont State - Required.
• Accepted freshman Fairmont State students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (3.13).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than Fairmont State (98.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. 33.8% at Fairmont State .

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. Fairmont State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 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).

• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Fairmont State University's (33%).
• Graduates from Fairmont State University earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,600 vs. $28,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fairmont State University graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($22,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Fairmont State graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($227 vs. $279).
• More Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fairmont State students, three years after graduation. (58% 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.