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Fairmont, WV · West Liberty, WV
| Fairmont State University | West Liberty University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $9,032/yr | $15,366/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $8,434/yr | $12,714/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $21,000 | $23,250 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $8,679/yr | $14,460/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $10,505/yr | $15,087/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $11,184/yr | $17,362/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $6,945/yr | $18,566/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $223/mo | $246/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $11,656/yr | $12,728/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $11,656/yr | $12,728/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,000/yr | $1,230/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $2,000/yr | $3,984/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $20,018/yr | $23,809/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,708/yr | $8,893/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $18,924/yr | $17,442/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 34% | 32% |
| Students taking federal loans | 39% | 44% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 99% | 97% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 810–1070 | 890–1123 |
| SAT average | 996 | 1045 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 17–23 | 18–24 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 16–23 · Math 16–21 | English 16–24 · Math 16–23 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 1,979 | 2,077 |
| Students accepted | 1,964 | 1,498 |
| Students who enrolled | 673 | 419 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 34% | 28% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 75% | 25% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 37% | 16% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Not considered |
| Class rank | Not considered | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Not considered | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 44% | 60% |
| Freshmen who come back | 67% | 69% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $46,857/yr | $43,296/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $28,411–$69,615 | $28,311–$61,253 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 55% | 55% |
| White students graduating | 47% | 62% |
| Black students graduating | 21% | 61% |
| Hispanic students graduating | No data reported | 50% |
| Asian students graduating | 50% | 0% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $41,197/yr | $36,822/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 60% | 65% |
| Graduate on time | 37% | 43% |
| Pell students who graduate | 34% | 44% |
| First-gen students who finish | 39% | 30% |
| Low-income students who finish | 36% | 26% |
| Students who transfer out | 18% | 1.1% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $42,893/yr | $41,374/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Health Professions 32% · Business, Management & Marketing 10% · Psychology 8% | Health Professions 27% · Business, Management & Marketing 18% · Education 13% |
| Most popular program | Health Professions — 32% of degrees | Health Professions — 27% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 10% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 18% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Psychology — 8% of degrees | Education — 13% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Engineering Technologies — 8% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 11% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 7% of degrees | Communication & Journalism — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $77,962/yr | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions — $95,302/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 13% | 12% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 2,590 | 1,511 |
| Students per professor | 14 : 1 | 12 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 217 | 365 |
| Average professor pay | $7,101/mo | $7,150/mo |
| Full-time professors | 92% | 64% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $41,285 | $45,145 |
| Setting | Town (distant) | Rural (fringe) |
| Location | Fairmont, WV | West Liberty, WV |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1865 | 1837 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 1.3% | 3% |
| Men | 43% | 39% |
| Women | 57% | 61% |
| White students | 86% | 81% |
| Black students | 5.6% | 5.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Asian students | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Two or more races | 5% | 6.9% |
| Other / not reported | 1% | 2.7% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 41% | 36% |
| Part-time students | 12% | 3.8% |
| Students age 25+ | 13% | 5.9% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $8,719/yr | $7,232/yr |
| Endowment | $34.5M | $22.5M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,050 | 1,291 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $6,272/yr | $5,672/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,214/yr | $5,022/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 19 meals/week | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | No | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | Yes | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | Yes |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division II with football | NCAA Division II with football |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 17 | 17 |
| Student athletes | 404 | 478 |
| Athletic scholarships | $2.0M | $2.7M |
| Athletics budget | $7.2M | $6.8M |
| Athletics revenue | $7.4M | $6.8M |
| Recruiting spend | $24,365 | $23,208 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.