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Fairfield , CT
Fairfield University is a private Jesuit institution located in Fairfield, Connecticut. With its picturesque campus spread over 200 acres, the university offers a comprehensive range of liberal arts and sciences programs. Established in 1942, Fairfield University is known for its commitment to academic excellence, social justice, and a well-rounded education.
The university's academic offerings include undergraduate degrees in various disciplines, including business, arts and sciences, engineering, nursing, and education. Additionally, Fairfield offers over 40 graduate programs, including business, education, and nursing. The university is renowned for its strong emphasis on experiential learning, providing students with opportunities for internships, research projects, and community engagement.
At Fairfield University, students can also benefit from its vibrant campus life. The university offers a wide array of extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations catering to diverse interests, from sports and music to volunteering and cultural enrichment. The "Jesuit values," including a commitment to service, intellectual rigor, and a holistic approach to education, are deeply integrated into the university's curriculum and campus activities, cultivating a sense of community and social awareness among students.
Overall, Fairfield University offers a comprehensive education that combines academic excellence, experiential learning, and a nurturing community. Its Jesuit heritage fosters an inclusive and compassionate environment, preparing students to make a positive impact in their professions and in society. With its beautiful campus, diverse programs, and strong emphasis on the development of the whole person, Fairfield University provides a well-rounded education for students seeking a transformative college experience.
Located in Fairfield, CT, Fairfield University is a private university. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 33%. The freshman retention rate at Fairfield University is 91% and the six-year graduation rate is 84%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 15. The transfer application deadline is April 1.
Read more about what Fairfield University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
5,391
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$59,460
Tuition
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
84%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to find out as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the school in order to improve your chances of being accepted. Here are the most relevant facts you should know about admission policy and requirements at Fairfield University.
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 6,162 in 2025. Fairfield University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the student. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, Fairfield University offers a superior educational experience.
Test Scores
14% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 5% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 19% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 78% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 3% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 62 and 38 between 24-29.
The average ACT score for all the accepted students in 2025 was 30 while the average GPA was 3.76. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Fairfield University; the same goes for your ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 663 for the newly enrolled students, while the average SAT Math score was 660.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 15. When submitting your application as a transfer student, the application deadline is April 1.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Fairfield University was 91%, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It provides valuable insight into the percentage of students who complete their studies within a designated timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 84%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better idea of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution had an enrollment of 6,864 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 83. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 5,391, 104 of which were foreign students. 41 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 2,520 male and 3,558 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student body and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Fairfield University.
This school had 94 Asian students and 70 Afro-American students in 2025. 477 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 109 as multirace. The school also had 4 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 1 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 254 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to consider before you apply. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Fairfield University estimated tuition price.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $59,460 for all full-time domestic students. Fairfield University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students totaled $950 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to consider the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,175.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Fairfield University was $19,020 in 2025. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 reached $11,630 for one academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $12,680.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 59,460 |
| Room and Board | $ 19,020 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,175 |
| Total Expense | $ 79,655 |
Financial Aid
Getting some financial help in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be crucial for completing your studies. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Fairfield University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
According to the most recent data, 546 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $31,943.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet other eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
1,811 students were given some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Fairfield University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 1,858. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $3,364,315, and state $340,382. The students of Fairfield University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $49,925,810, and external in the amount of $846,657.
$23,395
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
611 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this school in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 227 full-time freshman. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $3,364,315 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $114,667. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $82,438,297. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $1,540,257 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
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Majors
Faculty
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Fairfield University was 12:1: that means 12 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 787. This number included 355 men and 432 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Fairfield University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some info about social life at Fairfield University.
Its campus spans 200 acres.
Student Organizations
Participating in multiple student organizations can add depth and fulfillment to your educational journey.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 112. The student organization that gathers the largest number of students is Glee Club, followed by Club Sports and Intramural Athletics. Other popular organizations among the students at Fairfield University are Inter-Residential Hall Association (IRHA) and Fairfield University Student Association (FUSA).
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For students interested in media and communication, Fairfield University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Fairfield University, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Fairfield University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Fairfield University.
Career Counselling
At Fairfield University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Knowing what salary you can expect once you have completed your studies can help you decide if a certain school matches your career goals.
The average annual salary for graduates employed six months after graduation from this institution is 73,163 USD.
$73,163
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Fairfield University is located in Fairfield, CT.
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Fairfield University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Fairfield University is 59,460 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Fairfield University is 33%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Fairfield University is 91%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.