Head-to-head comparison
American Public University System vs Fairmont State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Charles Town, WV
American Public University System
- Net price / year
- $9,597
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,409
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Fairmont, WV
Fairmont State University
- Net price / year
- $9,032
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,857
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Fairmont State University comes closer — median earnings $46,857 against a $36,128 total, vs $44,409 at American Public University System. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Public University System | Fairmont State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,597 | $9,032 |
| Total net cost | $38,388 | $36,128 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,409 | $46,857 |
| Median debt | $21,743 | $21,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$117,408 | -$66,188 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, American Public University System or Fairmont State University?
Fairmont State University, at $9,032 a year after aid versus $9,597 — a gap of $565 a year, or $2,260 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do American Public University System or Fairmont State University graduates earn more?
Fairmont State University graduates report a median $46,857 ten years after entry, $2,448 more than the $44,409 at American Public University System. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, American Public University System or Fairmont State University?
Fairmont State University: its completers carry a median $21,000 in federal loans versus $21,743 at American Public University System, a difference of $743. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at American Public University System, against 44% at Fairmont State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.