Fairmont, West Virginia has a population of about 18,303. The city’s median household income is $60,791 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 31.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited engineering programs within 100 miles of Fairmont, with tuition ranging from $8,454 to $18,372 per year. In West Virginia, the top-earning engineering-related role is Architectural and Engineering Manager at a median $143,800 annually (BLS, May 2024).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer engineering programs. Distances are calculated from Fairmont city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairmont State University | Fairmont, WV | 0.9 mi | $8,454 - $18,372 | – |
| Pierpont Community and Technical College | Fairmont, WV | 3.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| West Virginia University | Morgantown, WV | 14.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly | Lemont Furnace, PA | 39.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Pennsylvania Western University | California, PA | 43.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all West Virginia schools on the West Virginia engineering page.
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (West Virginia, statewide) |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $88,200 |
| Electrical Engineer | $108,480 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $100,610 |
| Chemical Engineer | $139,730 |
| Aerospace Engineer | N/A |
| Biomedical Engineer | N/A |
| Environmental Engineer | $99,830 |
| Architectural and Engineering Manager | $143,800 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,303 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $60,791 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 31.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Engineering-related employment in Marion County | 90 workers, 26 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 5 engineering programs within 100 miles of Fairmont. The closest is Fairmont State University in Fairmont, WV (0.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Pennsylvania Western University (43.0 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS May 2024 state wage data, the top-paying engineering-related roles in West Virginia are: Architectural and Engineering Manager ($143,800), Chemical Engineer ($139,730), Electrical Engineer ($108,480). Wages for Fairmont workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Morgantown, WV is 15.5 miles from Fairmont and has its own set of local engineering programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Fairmont’s median household income of $60,791 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Fairmont while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and West Virginia public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Return to Best Online Engineering Programs in West Virginia (2026)