WSSU vs. Fairmont State

Should I go to Winston Salem State University or Fairmont State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WSSU 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

North Carolina Central University NCAT Fayetteville State University WVSU UNCG WVU ECSU Marshall University Wake Forest ECU VSU Catawba College
Winston Salem State University vs. Fairmont State University comparison
Winston Salem State University Fairmont State University College 3 College 4
Winston Salem State University Fairmont State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 WSSU Fairmont State
Location Winston-Salem, NC Fairmont, WV
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 5,004 3,498
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #956 #979
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wssu.edu fairmontstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 WSSU Fairmont State
Tuition (In State) $3,401 $6,022
Tuition (Out of State) $14,057 $15,638
Room & Board $11,220 $10,022
Avg Net Price $14,097 $10,794
Avg Grant Aid $8,350 $6,547
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 94%

Admission

 WSSU Fairmont State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,628 1,926
Admitted 5,598 1,897
Acceptance Rate 73.4% 98.5%
Enrolled % 15.3% 37%
Avg High School GPA 3.01 3.36
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 14/19 18/23
SAT Range 830/1050 820/1050
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Feb 15, 2025

Academics

 WSSU Fairmont State
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (50%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)

Outcomes

 WSSU Fairmont State
Graduation Rate 41% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,700 $37,600
Making Student Loan Payments 33% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,663 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $265 $227

Diversity

 WSSU Fairmont State
% Men 24% 41%
% Women 76% 59%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 16% 86%
% Black 72% 5%
% Hispanic 3% 2%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 WSSU Fairmont State
% In-State 82% 88%
% Out-of-State 16% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Winston Salem State University is larger than than Fairmont State based on total student enrollment (5,004 students vs. 3,498 students)

WSSU vs. Fairmont State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WSSU or Fairmont State ?

  • Fairmont State University is 77.1% more expensive to attend than WSSU for in-state tuition ($6,022.00 vs. $3,401.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.2% higher at Fairmont State than Winston Salem State University ($15,638.00 vs. $14,057.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fairmont State University than WSSU ($10,794 vs. $14,097)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairmont State University are 12% lower than costs at Winston Salem State University ($10,022 vs. $11,220)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairmont State University than Winston Salem State University (94% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Winston Salem State University students is 27.5% larger than aid received Fairmont State University ($8,350 vs. $6,547)

WSSU vs. Fairmont State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Fairmont State University (962) is 92 points higher than at WSSU (870)
  • Incoming Fairmont State students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at WSSU (18)
  • Accepted freshman Fairmont State students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at WSSU (3.01)
  • Fairmont State has a higher acceptance rate (98.5%) than WSSU (73.4%)

WSSU vs. Fairmont State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WSSU 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 WSSU.

  • The graduation rate at WSSU is higher than Fairmont State University (41% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Fairmont State University earn on average $1,900 more per year than WSSU graduates after ten years. ($37,600 vs. $35,700)
  • Fairmont State University students graduate with a $3,663 lower median federal student loan debt than WSSU graduates. ($22,000 vs. $25,663)
  • Fairmont State graduates are paying $38 less per month on federal student loans than WSSU graduates. ($227 vs. $265)
  • More Fairmont State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSSU students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 33%)

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