Fairfield University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Fairfield University is a private institution located in Fairfield, Connecticut with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Fairfield University admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 33%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1310 and an ACT composite around 29. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $48,095 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Fairfield University?

54% of enrolled students at Fairfield University had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.76, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.

What does Fairfield University weight in admissions?

Fairfield University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Fairfield University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 630–690, with an EBRW midpoint near 655. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–32. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Fairfield University actually cost?

Published tuition is $58,350 for in-state students and $58,350 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $19,838 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $48,095 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 7% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Fairfield University

Will my child graduate from Fairfield University?

These predict outcomes at Fairfield University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Fairfield University

The most popular undergraduate programs at Fairfield University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Finance and Financial Management Services and Marketing. Across all programs, Fairfield University confers roughly 879 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing program report a median income of about $100,140 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Fairfield University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Fairfield University disclosed 6 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 1.1 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 5 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

Other colleges in Connecticut parents ask about

• Yale University
  4% acceptance
• University of Connecticut
  52% acceptance
• University of Hartford
  96% acceptance
• Trinity College
  29% acceptance
• Wesleyan University
  16% acceptance
• Connecticut College
  37% acceptance

Colleges that admit at a similar rate

• Macalester College
  29% acceptance · Minnesota
• Whitman College
  38% acceptance · Washington

Common questions parents ask about Fairfield University