Fairfield University

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

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About Fairfield University

School Type: Private

Religious Affiliation: Roman Catholic

Status: Non-profit

Military Friendly: No

Accreditation: regional

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.

Fairfield, CT

$52,070

Avg tuition

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Rankings

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

Admissions Breakdown

56%

Acceptance Rate Insight

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.

89%

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.

84%

Graduation Rate Insight

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 scoresConsidered (not required)

High school transcriptRequired

High school rankConsidered (not required)

Letter of recommendationRequired

High school GPARequired

Open admissionNo

Completion of college prep programRequired

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL)Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollmentImplied no

Credit for qualified life experience*Implied no

Advance placement (AP) creditsYes

*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

ACT 25th-75th Percentile27-31

SAT 25th-75th Percentile1230-1380

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

6k

Students enrolled

30%

Online student enrollment

12:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

OnlineCheck Bold
On-campusCheck Bold
HybridCheck Bold
InternationalCheck Bold

Demographics

White

75%

Unknown

7%

Black

2%

Hispanic

7%

Two or more races

2%

Non-U.S. Citizen

4%

Asian

3%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Socio-economic diversity

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

8%

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

CertificatesX BoldNot offered

AssociateX BoldNot offered

Bachelor'sX BoldNot offered

Graduate CertificateCheck Bold20% online

Master'sCheck Bold17% online

DoctorateX BoldNot offered

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student LevelIn-stateOut-of-state
Undergraduate$59,784$59,784
Graduate$54,672$54,672

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

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

Costs to ConsiderPrice
Books and supplies$1,200
On-campus room and board$17,758
On-campus other expenses$2,600
Off-campus (not with family) room and boardCurrently unavailable
Off-campus (not with family) other expensesCurrently unavailable
Off-campus (with family) other expensesCurrently unavailable

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by categoryIn-stateOut-of-state
On-campus$81,342$81,342
Off-campus without family$60,984$60,984
Off-campus with family$60,984$60,984

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 debtafter graduation

$57k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division I-FCS

8.6%

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

Participation

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

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2021-2022 academic year.

#ProgramsBAMADoc
1Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies.
2Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies.
3Biological And Biomedical Sciences.
4Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services.
5Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs.
6Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services.
7Education.
8Engineering.
9English Language And Literature/Letters.
10Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences.
11Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics.
12Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences.
13Health Professions And Related Programs.
14History
15History.
16Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities.
17Mathematics And Statistics.
18Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies.
19Natural Resources And Conservation.
20Philosophy And Religious Studies.
21Physical Sciences.
22Psychology.
23Public Administration And Social Service Professions.
24Social Sciences.
25Visual And Performing Arts.

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.