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Fairfield University

Fairfield University

Fairfield, CT · Suburb · 5,373 students
WebsiteCommon AppForbes rankingScorecard
Nov 1 · Early Action · in 30 days
Checked Sep 2026 · fairfield.edu
$48,095
Average net priceYour net price
2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
84%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
58% typical
$88,794
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$55,545 typical
33%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
81% typical · not scored
Accredited by New England Commission on Higher Education
About

Fairfield University is a Jesuit Catholic institution in coastal Connecticut best known for its strong liberal arts foundation combined with respected professional programs in business (Dolan School of Business), nursing, and education. Its academics emphasize the Jesuit tradition of educating the whole person, with small class sizes, close faculty mentorship, and a core curriculum grounded in ethics and critical thinking. Campus life reflects a close-knit, residential community with a strong emphasis on service, spirituality, and leadership, complemented by a picturesque New England setting near the Long Island Sound. What sets Fairfield apart is its blend of accessible, personalized education with the resources and outlook of a comprehensive university, along with a deep commitment to community engagement and social justice rooted in its Jesuit mission.

Wikipedia:Fairfield University is a private Catholic university in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. It was founded by the Jesuits in 1942. In the fall of 2024, the university had about 5,400 full-time undergraduate students and 1,500 graduate students, including full-time and part-time students. It offers bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees through its five schools and colleges and, since 2023, associate degrees.

Location
Fairfield, CT, 06824-5195 · Suburb campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
HPN · Westchester
24 mi away
Open in Google MapsView official campus map
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
YoursEveryone
Tuition & fees$58,350
Housing & food (on campus)$19,838
Books & supplies$1,175
Cost of attendance$76,074
Average net price$48,095
Same price for all students
Tuition & fees$58,350
Housing & food (on campus)$19,838
Books & supplies$1,175
Cost of attendance$76,074
Average net price$48,095
Net price by family income · 2023-24
$0–30k
$33,302
$30–48k
$35,155
$48–75k
$26,953
$75–110k
$44,077
$110k+
$50,773
Merit aid · 2024-25
Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.
Average award$23,408
First-years who got one877
Source: Fairfield University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures.
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
84%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
82%
Back for yr 2
91%
Transferred
12%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
84% graduated · 13% transferred · 3% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$73,693
10 yrs after entry$88,794
Debt
Median at graduation$26,000
Monthly payment$276
Middle 50% owe$12k–$27k
90th percentile$30,750
Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral/Professional University: 58% graduate within 6 yrs, $55,545 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
33%
Test policy
Test optional
Checked Sep 2026
SAT average
1335
R 630–700 · M 630–690
ACT midpoint
29
Comp 29–32
SAT middle 50%: 1260–1390
40080012001600
Application deadlines · first-year, fall 2027 entry
Early Action
Nov 1 2026
in 30 days
Not binding: apply early, hear early, and you can still apply elsewhere.
Early Decision I
Nov 15 2026
binding in 44 days
If admitted, you must enroll and withdraw other applications.
Early Decision II
Jan 15 2027
binding in 105 days
A later Early Decision round: if admitted, you must enroll and withdraw other applications.
Regular Decision
Jan 15 2027
in 105 days
Not binding: the standard deadline.
Checked Sep 2026 · fairfield.edu · Confirm on the school's site before you apply.

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Essay prompts

If Fairfield University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 42%Women 58%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
12 : 1
Pell grant
7%
First-gen
17%
Family income
$117,152
Independent
4%
Age at entry
19.0
Part-time
1%
Race & ethnicity
White
79%
Hispanic
9%
Black
1%
Asian
2%
Two or more
2%
Non-resident
2%
Unknown
5%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division I without football · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Cross Country
    Men's · Women's
  • Field Hockey
    Women's
  • Golf
    Men's · Women's
  • Lacrosse
    Men's · Women's
  • Rowing
    Men's · Women's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Swimming and Diving (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$73,693
After 10 yrs
$88,794
Finance and Financial Management Services254
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing197
Marketing157
Accounting and Related Services115
Psychology, General75
Communication and Media Studies72
Data Analytics61
Business Administration, Management and Operations59
Economics52
Biology, General50
Mechanical Engineering38
Political Science and Government30
Computer and Information Sciences, General28
English Language and Literature, General25
Mathematics22
International Business19
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$411M
Full-time faculty
100%
Faculty salary
$13,298/mo
Teaching spend
$15,558
per student
Federal loans
43%
Classification
Carnegie type
Doctoral/Professional University
Research activity
Research college or university
$6M research spending
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, more selective admissions

Wondering if Fairfield University is the right fit for you?

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Financial aid & net cost estimates
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