Quad

Fairfield University

Fairfield, CTQuad's selectivityVery selective
Known forDraws students nationallyHigh earnersHigh graduation rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

1 in 3 applicants admitted

Fairfield admits about 1 in 3 applicants (33%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 92% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

33%

33%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityVery selective

Applied

18,509

Admitted

6,162

Yield

24%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.75

SAT middle 50%

1260–1390

10001600
ACT middle 50%

29–32

1836
Applications +85% since fall 2014 · admit rate 72% → 33%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 5,373 undergrads, where 7% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

5.4K

undergrads · larger than 79% of colleges

Diversity index

0.36

Pell Grant

7%

below the median

First generation

17%

below the median

Large suburbNCAA D-I · Metro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroad
Less diverse · index 0.42 → 0.36 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Finance, General (18% of graduates). 12 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 59% of colleges. 100% of faculty are full-time. Spends $15,558 a year on instruction per student.

12 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 59% of colleges

Most popular major

Finance, General

18% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Economics

$120.3K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

100%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$15.6K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $51,728 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $27.4K more than the national median. The 96% who received grants paid $49,958 on average; the other 4% paid the full sticker price of $76,940.

33%

$51.7K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $27.4K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$76,940 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 33% of full price

Federal loans

43%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · −4% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $88,794 ten years after enrolling, more than at 95% of colleges; 84% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.3 years of that salary.

84%

84%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$88.8K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$26K

≈ $276/month for 10 years

Retention

91%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 80% → 84% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price held about steady after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 4%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 85% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 72% to 33%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    −4% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +86%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 72% → 33%

  • Diversity

    Less diverse

    index 0.42 → 0.36

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Providence College

51% admit · SAT 1320 · 4.2K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso Northeast
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Bucknell University

32% admit · SAT 1390 · 3.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Marist University

57% admit · SAT 1265 · 5.2K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso NortheastAlso private
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The University of Tampa

40% admit · 10.6K undergrads

Similar selectivityAlso private
Compare side-by-side
Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    Fairfield University Common Data Set 2022–23

    Fairfield University · Fall 2022; 2021–22; 2022–23; Fall 2023 entrants; Fall 2023 cycle; Class of 2022 · retrieved 2026-10-05

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    Fairfield University (2026)

    Fairfield University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 129242 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything