Centra College vs. Fairmont State

Comparable Facts

Compare Centra College in Lynchburg, VA 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 Centra College based on total student enrollment (3,305 students vs. 219 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Centra College is located in Lynchburg, VA (Small City setting); Fairmont State University is in Fairmont, WV (Distant Town setting).
• Centra College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Fairmont State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Centra College 3:1; Fairmont State University 14:1.

Centra College vs. Fairmont State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Centra College or Fairmont State ? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairmont State University are 6.2% lower than at Centra College ($11,656 vs. $12,424).
• Centra College is 49.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fairmont State (about $4,275 more per year; $12,983.00 vs. $8,708.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 45.8% higher at Fairmont State than at Centra College (about $5,941 more per year; $18,924.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fairmont State University than at Centra College (91% vs. 0%).

Centra College vs. Fairmont State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Centra College 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 Centra College.

• 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: Centra College - Test-free; Fairmont State - Required.
• Centra College has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than Fairmont State (98.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 0% at Centra College vs. 33.8% at Fairmont State .

Centra College vs. Fairmont State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Centra College 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).

• Graduates from Centra College earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than Fairmont State graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $37,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Centra College graduates have a $9,958 lower median loan debt than Fairmont State graduates ($12,042 vs. $22,000).
• Among borrowers, Centra College graduates have an estimated $103 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fairmont State graduates ($124 vs. $227).
• More Centra College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fairmont State students, three years after graduation. (66% 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.