PVAMU vs. Fairmont State

Comparable Facts

Compare Prairie View A & M University in Prairie View, TX with Fairmont State University in Fairmont, WV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Prairie View A & M University is larger than Fairmont State based on total student enrollment (9,922 students vs. 3,305 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Prairie View A & M University is located in Prairie View, TX (Distant Town setting); Fairmont State University is in Fairmont, WV (Distant Town setting).
• Prairie View A & M University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Fairmont State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Prairie View A & M University 17:1; Fairmont State University 14:1.

PVAMU vs. Fairmont State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PVAMU 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 PVAMU ($11,328 vs. $14,448).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prairie View A & M University are 11.5% lower than at Fairmont State University ($10,317 vs. $11,656).
• Prairie View A & M University is 29.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fairmont State (about $2,591 more per year; $11,299.00 vs. $8,708.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 42% higher at PVAMU than at Fairmont State University (about $7,950 more per year; $26,874.00 vs. $18,924.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fairmont State University than at Prairie View A & M University (91% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Prairie View A & M University students is 84.4% larger than aid received by Fairmont State University students ($15,769 vs. $8,552).

PVAMU vs. Fairmont State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PVAMU 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 PVAMU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Prairie View A & M University (970) is 30 points higher than at Fairmont State (940).
• Incoming Fairmont State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (20 vs. 18 at PVAMU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Prairie View A & M University 860/1080; Fairmont State University 810/1070.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Prairie View A & M University 16/21; Fairmont State University 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PVAMU - Required; Fairmont State - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: PVAMU Mar 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Fairmont State students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at PVAMU (3.3).
• Fairmont State has a higher acceptance rate (98.6%) than PVAMU (79.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at PVAMU vs. 33.8% at Fairmont State .

PVAMU vs. Fairmont State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PVAMU 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).

• Prairie View A & M University's six-year graduation rate (34%) is higher than Fairmont State University's (33%).
• Graduates from Prairie View A & M University earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Fairmont State graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $37,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fairmont State University graduates have a $6,955 lower median loan debt than PVAMU graduates ($22,000 vs. $28,955).
• Among borrowers, Fairmont State graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PVAMU graduates ($227 vs. $299).
• More Fairmont State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PVAMU students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 28%)

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.