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Fairmont State University

#884 in US ranking Fairmont, WV
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$20,519
Tuition & fees
$8,708
Avg. aid
$7,721
Receiving aid
96%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
99%
SAT range
810–1070
ACT range
17–23

Outcomes

Graduation rate
44%
Median salary
$45,092
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of Fairmont State University?

Fairmont State University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Institutional accreditation applies to the university as a whole; it is different from any additional accreditation or approval that may apply to a particular degree program.

That distinction matters especially in fields such as nursing and teacher education, where program approval, examinations, and state licensing rules can affect a graduate's next steps. Applicants to a licensed profession should check the current status of the exact program and the requirements of the state where they intend to practice.

Institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid, but it does not guarantee that another college will accept a course in transfer. The receiving institution decides how transferred work fits its own degree requirements.

What are the admission requirements at Fairmont State University?

First-year applicants generally need to submit an undergraduate application and a secondary-school transcript documenting graduation or an accepted equivalent. Fairmont State is not an open-admission institution, although its reported acceptance rate for the entering class in the supplied admissions figures was about 99%.

In 2024-25 admissions reporting, the university classified the secondary-school record, GPA, and admission-test scores as required. Applicants should confirm the policy for their intended entry term before deciding whether to send SAT or ACT results; testing rules can change, and some programs may impose separate requirements. The same reporting did not classify class rank, recommendations, or completion of a college-preparatory program as required.

Among enrolled first-time students who submitted scores, the reported median was 995 on the SAT composite and 20 on the ACT composite. Those figures describe score submitters, not a guaranteed admission threshold. International applicants may also need to document English proficiency; the appropriate test, minimum score, and any exceptions should be checked under the current international-admissions policy.

Admission to nursing, aviation, or another specialized program may involve steps beyond general university admission. Applicants should distinguish the university application from any later program application and check deadlines for the specific term and major they want.

What are the application fees and waivers at Fairmont State University?

Applicants should check the fee displayed in Fairmont State's current application before submitting it. A dependable current undergraduate application-fee amount, along with a universal fee-waiver rule, cannot be established here, so it would be misleading to present a particular charge as applicable to every applicant.

First-year, transfer, graduate, and international applications can have different procedures. Anyone who needs a waiver should ask the appropriate admissions office before paying whether they qualify, what documentation is required, and whether the application system needs a waiver code. An application charge is separate from an enrollment deposit, orientation charge, or tuition bill.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Fairmont State University?

Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC opportunities are reported for Fairmont State students through cooperating host institutions, rather than as branch units operated by Fairmont State on its campus. Students interested in either branch should confirm the current host, cross-enrollment procedure, and travel expectations before building ROTC courses into a schedule.

ROTC participation, scholarship eligibility, and a future service obligation are separate questions. Scholarships can have academic, medical, and citizenship conditions, while contracting or accepting certain benefits may create a military commitment. A prospective cadet should discuss those terms with the host unit and Fairmont State's academic and financial aid offices. Navy ROTC participation should not be assumed without confirmation of a current arrangement.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Fairmont State University?

Fairmont State generally accepts transfer work from other accredited institutions and admits transfer students for fall, spring, and summer entry. Applicants should submit official transcripts from every college attended; the admissions decision and the decision about how particular courses count toward a degree are separate.

A transfer evaluation can determine whether a course receives credit, but a department may still decide whether it meets a major prerequisite. This is particularly important for sequenced programs, where a course that transfers as an elective might not replace a required class. Applicants with relatively little college coursework should also check whether a high school record is needed for admission.

The university reports accepting several forms of assessed prior learning, including CLEP, DSST/DANTES, and credit based on American Council on Education recommendations. Eligibility, score thresholds, maximum credits, and applicability to a major can differ. Before committing to an enrollment plan, a transfer student should request an official evaluation and compare the resulting degree audit with the courses still required at Fairmont State.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Fairmont State University?

Students interested in study abroad should establish which international programs Fairmont State currently approves and how those courses would apply to their degree. Possible routes can include institution-arranged opportunities or approved partner and third-party programs, but availability depends on the term and program.

Academic approval matters as much as destination: a student should determine in advance whether overseas courses will satisfy a major requirement, a general-education requirement, or elective credit. They should also ask about application deadlines, passport and visa needs, insurance, and any difference between home-campus tuition and a program provider's charges.

Financial aid may be usable for an eligible approved program, but eligibility and the amount available depend on the student's award and the program's structure. Written confirmation from academic advising and financial aid is more useful than assuming that ordinary aid or transfer rules will apply abroad.

Fairmont State University Admissions Factors

SAT range
810–1070
4001600
ACT range
17–23
136
Acceptance rate
99%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
99%
West Virginia
93%
US
78%

34% of admitted students enrolled (651 of 1,928)

ACT scores of enrolled students

ACT in range 12-17
ACT in range 18-23
ACT in range 24-29
ACT in range 30-36

Fairmont State University Admissions

Applicants
Total: 1,955
Admission
Total: 1,928
Enrolled
Total: 651
Women
Men

How to Apply to Fairmont State University

Regular application deadline

August 16

Early Decision

No

Early Action

No

Fairmont State University First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 571
Out-of-state: 74
International: 5

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 651
Transfer: 179

Fairmont State University Admission Requirements

Median composite SAT score

995

Median composite ACT score

20

Percent of students submitting ACT scores

31%

Percent of students submitting SAT scores

78%

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Computer required

No

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

Yes

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Neither required nor recommended

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Neither required nor recommended

Recommendations

Neither required nor recommended

Formal demonstration of competencies

Neither required nor recommended

Admission test scores

Required

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

Yes

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Orientation program

Yes

Disabilities services

Yes

Off-campus study

Yes

ROTC-Army

ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institution

ROTC-Air Force

ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institution

Study abroad

Yes

Weekend/evening college

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

Yes

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

Yes

Fairmont State University Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring, Summer

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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