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Fairfield University

Fairfield, Connecticut · Private nonprofit · 4-year · Suburb

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At a glance

Average net price
$48,095What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
33%
Graduation rate
84%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
5,373
In-state tuition
$58,350Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$58,350
SAT midpoint
1,305
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$88,794Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$48,095

Better than 2% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

84%

Better than 92% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$88,794

Better than 94% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$26,000

Better than 28% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$76,074

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$48,095

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

What would this cost me?
Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Fairfield University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time84%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return91%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$26,000
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$88,794

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Fairfield University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$91,418197
Economics$74,02352
Accounting and Related Services$71,747115
Finance and Financial Management Services$62,952254
Mechanical Engineering$62,84638
Marketing$53,891157
Business Administration, Management and Operations$50,55859
International Relations and National Security Studies$49,2394
Communication and Media Studies$46,67772
Psychology, General$39,89075
Political Science and Government$38,42630
English Language and Literature, General$27,20625
Data AnalyticsNot reported61
Biology, GeneralNot reported50
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralNot reported28
MathematicsNot reported22
International BusinessNot reported19
Public HealthNot reported13
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationNot reported12
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reported12
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsNot reported10
Biomedical/Medical EngineeringNot reported9
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringNot reported8
Neurobiology and NeurosciencesNot reported8
PhysicsNot reported8
HistoryNot reported7
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessNot reported7
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchNot reported6
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported6
ChemistryNot reported5
Fine and Studio ArtsNot reported5
Social WorkNot reported4
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyNot reported4
PhilosophyNot reported4
Sociology and AnthropologyNot reported3
SociologyNot reported3
Area StudiesNot reported3
JournalismNot reported2
Management Information Systems and ServicesNot reported2
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported1
MusicNot reported1
Manufacturing EngineeringNot reportedNot reported
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasNot reportedNot reported
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reportedNot reported
Computer EngineeringNot reportedNot reported
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reportedNot reported
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsNot reportedNot reported
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reportedNot reported

All 48 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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