School Profile

Fairfield University

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Fairfield, CT

$52,070

Avg tuition

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About Fairfield University

School Type: Private

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: Catholic, Roman Catholic  While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

Fairfield University is a small private university located on a suburban campus in Fairfield, Connecticut. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,603, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 56%. The university offers 52 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 84%, and a student-faculty ratio of 12:1. Tuition and fees for students are $52,070.

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Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a high acceptance rate.

This school accepts students at a higher rate than other schools. High acceptance schools welcome 51-100% of all applicants.

56% of students were accepted during the 2021-2022 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

89% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2020 and returned in Fall 2021.

Graduation Rate Insight

Students graduate from this school at a higher rate than other schools.

This is typically an indication of a school's quality and means most students finish their degree in a timely manner.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

84% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2015. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Considered (not required)

High school transcript Required

High school rank Considered (not required)

Letter of recommendation Required

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Required

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Implied no

Credit for qualified life experience* Implied no

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

Students who attend this school typically have higher standardized test scores than students at other schools.

While test scores can be an important aspect of college applications, schools determine admission based on several factors, and these test scores are only a suggested range.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 27-31

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 1230-1380

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of between 5,000 and 15,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

6k

Students enrolled

30%

Online student enrollment

12:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

Online Check Bold
On-campus Check Bold
Hybrid The program is a combination of on-campus and online learning and varies per program. Check Bold
International Online classes are available for students around the world. Check Bold

Demographics

White

75%

Unknown

7%

Hispanic

7%

Non-U.S. Citizen

4%

Asian

3%

Black

2%

Two or more races

2%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

60%

Socio-economic diversity

8% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

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Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

13

Total Online Enrollment

1,770

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

90% On-campus

10% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates X Bold Not offered

Associate X Bold Not offered

Bachelor's X Bold Not offered

Graduate Certificate Check Bold 20% online

Master's Check Bold 17% online

Doctorate X Bold Not offered

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $52,070 $52,070
Graduate $19,383 $19,383

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2021–2022 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $1,150
On-campus room and board $16,110
On-campus other expenses $1,730
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $16,110
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $1,730
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $2,280

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $71,060 $71,060
Off-campus without family $71,060 $71,060
Off-campus with family $55,500 $55,500

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

8%

State Grant Aid

2%

Institution Grant Aid

94%

Pell Grant

8%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $6,152
State Grant Aid $3,699
Institution Grant Aid $23,969
Pell Grant Aid $4,356

Financial Outlook

$26k

Average student debt after graduation

$57k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division I without football

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Basketball
  • Field Hockey
  • Golf
  • Lacrosse
  • Rowing
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming Diving
  • Tennis
  • Track Field Xcountry
  • Volleyball
  • Baseball
  • Basketball

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.

1

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies

BA

MA

DOC

2

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies

BA

MA

DOC

3

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

4

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

5

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

6

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

7

Education

BA

MA

DOC

8

Engineering

BA

MA

DOC

9

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

10

Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

11

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

BA

MA

DOC

12

Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

13

Health Professions And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

14

History

BA

MA

DOC

15

History

BA

MA

DOC

16

Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities

BA

MA

DOC

17

Mathematics And Statistics

BA

MA

DOC

18

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

BA

MA

DOC

19

Natural Resources And Conservation

BA

MA

DOC

20

Philosophy And Religious Studies

BA

MA

DOC

21

Physical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

22

Psychology

BA

MA

DOC

23

Public Administration And Social Service Professions

BA

MA

DOC

24

Social Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

25

Visual And Performing Arts

BA

MA

DOC

Resource

Financial Aid Overview

Resource

Understanding Grants & Scholarships

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Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2021-2022]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.