University of North Carolina Asheville vs Fairmont State University

University of North Carolina Asheville and Fairmont State University are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: University of North Carolina Asheville is more selective with a 93.9% acceptance rate compared to Fairmont State University's 99.2%. Average SAT scores are 1247 and 993 respectively.

Cost: Fairmont State University offers a lower average net price at $9,055, which is $3,810 less than University of North Carolina Asheville ($12,865). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Fairmont State University earn a median salary of $46,857 ten years after enrollment, which is $2,827 more than University of North Carolina Asheville graduates ($44,030).

Graduation: University of North Carolina Asheville leads with a 56.8% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 73.4% vs 64.2%.

Campus Size: University of North Carolina Asheville is the larger campus with 2,790 total students, while Fairmont State University has 2,690.

Bottom Line: Fairmont State University stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.