Fairfield University
Private nonprofit four-year university in Fairfield, CT that costs an average of $49,906 a year after financial aid, admits 33% of applicants and graduates 85% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$49,906
Acceptance rate
33%
Graduation rate
85%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$101,587
Private nonprofitLarge suburb5,373 undergraduates
Cost of Fairfield University
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $80,799 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $60,810 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $20,790 |
| Books and supplies | $1,175 |
| Average net price after aid | $49,906 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $30,752 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $35,919 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $37,768 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $42,341 |
| $110,001+ | $53,583 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Get your own estimate with Fairfield University's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 33% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,335 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 630–700 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 630–690 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 29–32 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 85% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 91% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $80,734 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $101,587 |
| Rank in Connecticut (earnings) | 3rd of 25 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $25,000 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $284 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 9.3% |
| Students with federal loans | 37% |
Majors and programs at Fairfield University
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (48)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 381 | $91,135 | $25,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 58 | $81,485 | $27,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 216 | $80,992 | $27,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 503 | $75,667 | $22,000 |
| Economics | 91 | $68,745 | $26,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 144 | $61,888 | $22,000 |
| Marketing | 316 | $60,871 | $26,000 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 14 | $52,083 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 144 | $50,903 | $26,980 |
| Biology | 79 | $42,460 | $27,000 |
| Psychology | 136 | $39,454 | $23,841 |
| Area Studies | 5 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 10 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 13 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 6 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 55 | — | $18,750 |
| Computer Engineering | — | — | — |
| Data Analytics | 134 | — | $24,990 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | — | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 10 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 46 | — | $26,672 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 22 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 6 | — | — |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | — | — |
| History | 21 | — | — |
| International Business | 38 | — | — |
| Journalism | 9 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 17 | — | — |
| Management Information Systems and Services | 3 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | — | — | — |
| Manufacturing Engineering | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | 32 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | — | — | — |
| Music | 2 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 8 | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 17 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 6 | — | — |
| Physics | 8 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 53 | — | $22,236 |
| Public Health | 25 | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 28 | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 13 | — | — |
| Social Work | 7 | — | — |
| Sociology | 7 | — | — |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 5 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 13 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
Associate's degree programs (4)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | — | — |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences | — | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (40)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 63 | $123,281 | $69,960 |
| Applied Mathematics | 28 | $96,394 | — |
| Computer Engineering | 19 | $92,514 | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 70 | $85,023 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | 120 | $81,504 | $33,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 293 | $81,125 | $27,874 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 85 | $61,432 | $53,433 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 65 | $55,382 | $33,500 |
| Area Studies | 4 | — | — |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | — | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 6 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 38 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 7 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 8 | — | — |
| Data Analytics | 57 | — | — |
| Data Science | 18 | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | 7 | — | — |
| Economics | 2 | — | — |
| Education | 6 | — | — |
| Education, Other | — | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | — | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 11 | — | — |
| Electrical and Computer Engineering | 11 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | — | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 1 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 10 | — | — |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 1 | — | — |
| Industrial Engineering | 14 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | 10 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 9 | — | — |
| Psychology | — | — | — |
| Psychology, Other | — | — | — |
| Public Administration | 8 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 33 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 12 | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 17 | — | — |
| Taxation | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 11 | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 16 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (2)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | $144,520 | $71,750 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | — | — | — |
Professional degree programs (2)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | 14 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 89 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (24)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 16 | $59,013 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | 1 | — | — |
| Applied Mathematics | — | — | — |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | — | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 4 | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | 5 | — | — |
| Education | — | — | — |
| Education, Other | — | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | — | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | 8 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | — | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | — | — | — |
| International Business | — | — | — |
| Management Information Systems and Services | — | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 3 | — | — |
| Marketing | 3 | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | — | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 3 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 6 | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | — | — | — |
| Taxation | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 4 | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 3 | — | — |
Similar colleges in Connecticut
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Haven | West Haven | $32,994 | 60% | $69,320 |
| Quinnipiac University | Hamden | $41,729 | 72% | $87,596 |
| Yale University | New Haven | $11,340 | 3.9% | $118,356 |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford | $28,928 | 96% | $66,020 |
| Sacred Heart University | Fairfield | $45,827 | 65% | $80,896 |
| Wesleyan University | Middletown | $23,014 | 16% | $86,811 |
| Trinity College | Hartford | $37,004 | 29% | $103,089 |
| Connecticut College | New London | $35,960 | 37% | $82,225 |
About Fairfield University
| Type | Private nonprofit four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Fairfield, CT |
| Setting | Large suburb |
| Undergraduates | 5,373 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 12 to 1 |
| Accreditor | New England Commission on Higher Education |
| Website | fairfield.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is Fairfield University's acceptance rate?
Fairfield University admits 33% of applicants, making it selective. Admitted students average 1,335 on the SAT.
How much does Fairfield University cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $80,799 a year (tuition and fees: $60,810). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $49,906 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $30,752.
How much do Fairfield University graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $101,587 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 3rd of 25 similar colleges in Connecticut. The best-paid bachelor's program is registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing ($91,135 a year after graduation).
What is Fairfield University's graduation rate?
85% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 91% of first-year students return for a second year.