Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private research university in Fairfield, Connecticut, serving roughly 5,373 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 33.29% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $88,794 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $58,350
- 2024 Average Net Price: $48,095 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 33.29% Selective
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 5,373 99.1% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 84.30%
- Average SAT Score: 1335
Fairfield University: what the data shows
Common questions about Fairfield University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Fairfield University?
Fairfield University is located in Fairfield, CT (ZIP 06824-5195).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is Fairfield University public or private?
Fairfield University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Fairfield University cost?
Published tuition: $58,350.
Average net price after aid: $48,095.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $33,302 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $35,155 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $26,953 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $44,077 |
| $110,001+ | $50,773 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $233,400.
How hard is it to get into Fairfield University?
Admission rate: 33.29%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1335 and midpoint ACT 29.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Fairfield University?
Total enrollment: 5,373 students.
About 99% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Fairfield University?
150%-time completion rate: 84.30%.
First-year retention: 91.3%.
What do graduates of Fairfield University earn?
Median earnings: $73,693 six years after entry; $88,794 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $26,000.
6.92% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Fairfield University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (1,933 completions)
- Finance, General (249 completions)
- CIP 520201 (225 completions)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research (187 completions)
- CIP 520301 (161 completions)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General (152 completions)
- CIP 307102 (117 completions)
- Communication and Media Studies (72 completions)
- General Psychology (61 completions)
- Economics (41 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Fairfield University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 33.29%; completion rate 84.30%; median earnings $88,794 at 10 years; net price $48,095. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$58,350
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Fairfield University was $58,350.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$48,095
2024 Value
In 2024 Fairfield University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $48,095.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$192,380 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$48,095 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$233,400 4-Year Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Fairfield University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
6.92% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
43.22% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Fairfield University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Fairfield University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $42,920 | $42,920 | $35,212 |
| 2014 | $43,770 | $43,770 | $36,935 |
| 2015 | $44,875 | $44,875 | $35,893 |
| 2016 | $46,000 | $46,000 | $36,841 |
| 2017 | $47,165 | $47,165 | $36,929 |
| 2018 | $48,350 | $48,350 | $39,676 |
| 2019 | $49,830 | $49,830 | $38,869 |
| 2020 | $51,325 | $51,325 | $36,633 |
| 2021 | $52,870 | $52,870 | $43,569 |
| 2022 | $54,455 | $54,455 | $45,701 |
| 2023 | $56,360 | $56,360 | $46,274 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
33.29% Acceptance Rate
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1335
ACT Average: 29
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.5 - 3.7
Estimated Median GPA: 3.60
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
99.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Fairfield University in 2024 is 5,373 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
91.3%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
81.82% 100% Completion Time
84.30% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 81.82% of students graduating from Fairfield University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Fairfield University.
Return on Investment
$26,000 Median Student Debt
$88,794 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
29.28% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
361.56% Return on Investment
2.9 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Fairfield University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
Finance, General: 249 completions
CIP 52.0201: 225 completions
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 187 completions
CIP 52.0301: 161 completions
Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 152 completions
CIP 30.7102: 117 completions
Communication and Media Studies: 72 completions
General Psychology: 61 completions
Economics: 41 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 1,933 completions
Most popular programs at Fairfield University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Fairfield University graduates.
About
Fairfield University is a private non-profit institution located in Fairfield, CT, offering 79 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 5,373 students. It is selective, with an admission rate of 33.29%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1335. The institution maintains a 84.30% graduation rate. Approximately 6.92% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Location
Fairfield, CT 06824-5195
Region: New England
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 84.30% graduation rate, Fairfield University demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.
Strong Career Outcomes: Fairfield University graduates report median earnings of $88,794 ten years after entry, placing them among the higher-earning college graduates nationally. This strong earnings potential reflects both the quality of education and the career opportunities available to graduates.
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 79 distinct degree programs, Fairfield University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does Fairfield University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $58,350 and average net price is $48,095 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Fairfield University?
The admission rate is 33.3% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Fairfield University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Fairfield University reports midpoint SAT about 1335 and midpoint ACT about 29.
What do graduates of Fairfield University earn?
Median earnings are $73,693 six years after entry and $88,794 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Fairfield University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 84.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Fairfield University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $26,000.
How big is Fairfield University?
Total enrollment is about 5,373 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Fairfield University public or private?
Fairfield University is a private nonprofit institution located in Fairfield, CT.
Is Fairfield University an HBCU?
No. Fairfield University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Fairfield University a tribal college?
No. Fairfield University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Fairfield University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Fairfield University does not meet that proxy (reported share 8.9%).
Is Fairfield University religiously affiliated?
Yes. IPEDS reports a religious affiliation for Fairfield University: Roman Catholic.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.