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Fairfield University
Getting into Fairfield University is competitive — a 33.3% admission rate — and the 1240–1380 range below says what competitive means in numbers.
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Fairfield University occupies suburban Fairfield, CT — a private campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat. The school maintains its Roman Catholic affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Economics, where graduates median $120,303 four years out. Faculty pay averages $159,576 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 5,373 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 91.3% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1240 and 1380 — above the CT middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Fairfield University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 1240–1380 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Fairfield University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 620 | 650 | 690 |
| SAT Math | 620 | 660 | 690 |
| ACT Composite | 29 | 30 | 32 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Fairfield University received 15,463 applications and admitted 6,956 (45%), with 1,436 enrolling.
How Fairfield University compares
| Fairfield University | Connecticut median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 33.3% | 76% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $58,350 | $30,207 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $88,794 | $64,209 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Fairfield University student earns $88,794 — 38% above the Connecticut median of $64,209 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
Fairfield University lists tuition at $58,350 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Fairfield University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $58,350 as the ceiling, not the bill.
Fairfield University enrolls 5,373 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Fairfield University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
84.3% of Fairfield University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 29.4 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $58,350 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Fairfield University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Economics | $120,303 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $110,586 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $106,663 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $101,831 |
| International Business | $101,411 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $96,937 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $94,347 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $91,633 |
| Marketing | $86,740 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $84,962 |
| Mathematics | $84,078 |
| Political Science and Government | $83,709 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $78,081 |
| Psychology, General | $70,211 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $62,527 |
Median earnings for these 15 Fairfield University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $88,794 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 33 additional Fairfield University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Fairfield University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1240–1380 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 33.3% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Fairfield University's acceptance rate?
45% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 6,956 admitted from 15,463 applicants.
How much does Fairfield University cost?
At Fairfield University, published tuition is $58,350 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Fairfield University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Fairfield University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $88,794 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Connecticut
- Trinity College — 29.3% admitted
- Wesleyan University — 16.5% admitted
- Eastern Connecticut State University — 83% admitted
- University of Connecticut — 52.4% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.