Head-to-head comparison
Fairmont State University vs BridgeValley Community & Technical College: which has better ROI?
Option A Fairmont, WV
Fairmont State University
- Net price / year
- $9,032
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,857
- Payback
- No payback
Option B South Charleston, WV
BridgeValley Community & Technical College
- Net price / year
- $4,565
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,432
- 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 $36,432 at BridgeValley Community & Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fairmont State University | BridgeValley Community & Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,032 | $4,565 |
| Total net cost | $36,128 | $9,130 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,857 | $36,432 |
| Median debt | $21,000 | $9,829 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$66,188 | -$247,690 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Fairmont State University or BridgeValley Community & Technical College?
BridgeValley Community & Technical College, at $4,565 a year after aid versus $9,032 — a gap of $4,467 a year, or $26,998 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 Fairmont State University or BridgeValley Community & Technical College graduates earn more?
Fairmont State University graduates report a median $46,857 ten years after entry, $10,425 more than the $36,432 at BridgeValley Community & Technical College. 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, Fairmont State University or BridgeValley Community & Technical College?
BridgeValley Community & Technical College: its completers carry a median $9,829 in federal loans versus $21,000 at Fairmont State University, a difference of $11,171. 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?
44% of students finish at Fairmont State University, against 34% at BridgeValley Community & Technical College. 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.