Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT
33.3%
Acceptance Rate
$58,350
Avg Cost (In-State)
$58,350
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
84.1%
Graduation Rate
5,373
Total Enrollment
We're showing you this because it offers your suggested major.
← Back to finance collegesBy the numbers
Fairfield University, at a glance
Graduation rate is the standard federal 6-year completion rate (students often take longer than four years). Earnings & selectivity rankings are computed across every US college in our catalog. Figures from College Scorecard / IPEDS; sticker cost is before financial aid.
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
January 15
Early Deadline
November 1 (Early Action) / November 15 (Early Decision)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
1
Letters of Rec
1
Application Fee
$60
Interview
Not required
Essays: Common Application personal essay required (250-650 words)
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$73,693
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$88,794
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
84%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $91,418 | $101,831 | 224 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | $62,952 | $106,663 | 148 |
| Marketing. | $53,891 | $86,740 | 106 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | $46,677 | $78,081 | 83 |
| Psychology, General. | $39,890 | $70,211 | 40 |
| Economics. | $74,023 | $120,303 | 36 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $50,558 | $84,962 | 32 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | $62,846 | $91,633 | 31 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Calculate Your Cost at Fairfield University
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Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
Roberta B. Willis Need-Merit Scholarship
$2,000-$5,250 (need-merit) or up to $5,250 (need-based)
stateCT residents attending CT colleges. Need-merit requires SAT 1200/27 ACT or top 20%; need-based by EFC.
Deadline: February 15
Learn more ↗Eastern Connecticut Warrior Award
$2,000-$6,000/year
universityECSU incoming freshmen via automatic merit grid.
Deadline: January 15
Learn more ↗Yale Financial Aid (Need-Met No-Loan)
100% need met; no loans; full ride for families under $75k
universityAll admitted Yale students with demonstrated need; families under $75k contribute $0.
Deadline: CSS Profile + FAFSA
Learn more ↗Quinnipiac Honors Scholarship
$15,000-$25,000/year
universityTop Quinnipiac incoming freshmen via competitive process; Honors Program admission.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Trinity College (CT) Need-Met Aid
100% need met; loans capped
universityAdmitted Trinity (CT) students with demonstrated need.
Deadline: CSS Profile + FAFSA
Learn more ↗Connecticut College Need-Met Aid
100% need met; loans capped
universityAdmitted Conn College students with demonstrated need.
Deadline: CSS Profile + FAFSA
Learn more ↗UConn Husky Distinction Scholarship
$2,000-$8,000/year
universityTop UConn incoming freshmen via automatic merit grid.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗UConn Babbidge Scholarship
$5,000/year (renewable)
universityTop UConn freshmen with academic merit + leadership; tier below Nutmeg/Day of Pride.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Governor's Scholarship Program
Varies
stateCT residents demonstrating financial need at participating CT institutions.
Deadline: Through campus aid office
Learn more ↗Net price by income
What it actually costs your family.
Average net price (tuition, fees, room/board minus grant aid) by household income tier, AY 2023–24. Source: IPEDS NPRC1.
| Household income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0 – $30,000 | $33,302 |
| $30,001 – $48,000 | $35,155 |
| $48,001 – $75,000 | $26,953 |
| $75,001 – $110,000 | $44,077 |
| $110,001+ | $50,773 |
Cost calculator
See the full income-tier cost breakdown for Fairfield University →
Type your household income and get a per-family estimate, plus % off sticker and a methodology breakdown.
Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 33.3% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Regular Decision
33.29%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
11.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
11.0%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
20.0%
% in-state
Residents of the college's home state
18.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
16.0%
Yield rate
Share of admitted students who enroll
91.0%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
85.0%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Demonstrated interest
Important
Visiting, attending info sessions and opening admissions emails meaningfully helps your chances. Track your touchpoints.
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