Fairfield University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Fairfield, Connecticut. It enrolls 5,373 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes90
Value14
Affordability1
Selectivity88
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 33.3%, Fairfield University is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
33.3%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1260 – 1390
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
29 – 32
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Fairfield University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
12.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Fairfield University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $48,095 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$48,095
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
7%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
43%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$58,350
Room & Board (on-campus)
$19,838
Room & Board (off-campus)
$19,838
Books & Supplies
$1,175
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,005
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,005
Total Cost of Attendance
$76,074
Application fee: $60 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$33,302
$30,001 – $48,000
$35,155
$48,001 – $75,000
$26,953
$75,001 – $110,000
$44,077
Over $110,000
$50,773
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$12,00025%percentile
$26,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$30,75090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $23,500
↓ $2,500
No Pell $23,250
↓ $2,750
Dependent students $23,250
↓ $2,750
Independent students $25,000
↓ $1,000
Female students $25,000
↓ $1,000
Male students $21,392
↓ $4,608
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($26,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
82% of full-time students who enrolled at Fairfield University graduate within six years, and 91% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
82%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
91%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Fairfield University earn a median of $88,794 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$88,794
Earning > $25K
89%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$76,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$84,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$71,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$77,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$81,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $8,700, about 10% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 95% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Fairfield University is home to 5,373 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
5,373
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
17%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 79.3%4,260
Hispanic 8.9%477
Other 2.1%114
International 1.9%104
Asian 1.8%94
Black 1.3%70
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Fairfield University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbFairfield, Connecticut
Housing
Strongly residential3,959 beds for 5,373 students
Adult Learners
1%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Fairfield University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
79 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Fairfield University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$687M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$116,976
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
360 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
77
21%
$152,234
Associate Professors
106
29%
$121,690
Assistant Professors
147
41%
$100,482
Instructors
30
8%
$89,904
Pros & Cons of Fairfield University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Fairfield University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Most students don't qualify for need-based federal aid
Best for:
Based on the data, Fairfield University is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fairfield University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Fairfield University.
Is Fairfield University hard to get into?
Fairfield University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 33.3%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Fairfield University?
Fairfield University has an acceptance rate of 33.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Fairfield University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Fairfield University scored between 1260 and 1390 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Fairfield University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Fairfield University scored between 29 and 32 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Fairfield University cost?
The average net price after aid at Fairfield University is $48,095 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Fairfield University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $88,794 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $48,095 per year. That's roughly 1.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Fairfield University known for?
Fairfield University is best known for its programs in Finance, Nursing, Marketing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Fairfield University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Fairfield University are $88,794, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Fairfield University accredited?
Yes. Fairfield University is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Fairfield University?
Fairfield University enrolls 5,373 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Fairfield University?
Fairfield University graduates 82% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Fairfield University a public or private college?
Fairfield University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Fairfield University located?
Fairfield University is located in Fairfield, Connecticut.
What programs does Fairfield University offer?
Fairfield University offers 79 distinct programs. The most popular include Finance, Nursing, Marketing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Fairfield University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Fairfield University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Connecticut
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
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Completion
College outcomes
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Rankings That Feature Fairfield University
Fairfield University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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