How to get into Fairfield University

How to get into Fairfield: the Jesuit Catholic university in Connecticut and college-by-college admission

33.3%

Acceptance rate

$58,350

In-state cost

What makes Fairfield University admissions different

Fairfield University is a Jesuit Catholic university on the Connecticut coast with roughly 4,800 undergraduates across five schools — the College of Arts and Sciences, the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, the School of Engineering and Computing, the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, and the School of Education and Human Development. Each school admits separately; Nursing and the Dolan School of Business run materially more selective than the headline number. Fairfield's Jesuit identity shapes the curriculum (the Magis Core), the service expectation, and the supplement reading. Applicants who engage with cura personalis ('care for the whole person') and magis ('the more') as more than buzzwords have an edge.

What an actually competitive application looks like

  1. 1.

    Pick the right school at application — switching from Arts and Sciences into the Egan School of Nursing or the Dolan School of Business after admission is highly competitive. Apply directly to your target school.

  2. 2.

    Write the 'Why Fairfield' supplement with specifics: the Magis Core curriculum, the Center for Faith and Public Life, specific programs (the Bellarmine Forum, the Quick Center for the Arts, specific Dolan or Egan offerings). Generic 'Jesuit education' language reads as off without specifics.

  3. 3.

    Apply Early Action or Early Decision if Fairfield is your top choice — Fairfield has historically offered EA and ED rounds and the ED commitment carries a meaningful admit bump.

  4. 4.

    Maintain a strong GPA in challenging coursework. Fairfield's admit middle 50% sits in the high A-/A range, with Nursing and Business at the upper end.

  5. 5.

    Fairfield has continued test-optional admissions. If your SAT is roughly 1280+ or ACT 28+, submit; for Nursing applicants, stronger science test scores reinforce the case.

  6. 6.

    Demonstrate service — Jesuit institutions read explicitly for sustained community engagement. A multi-year service record matters.

  7. 7.

    Visit campus and attend an info session. Fairfield tracks demonstrated interest.

Common mistakes that hurt applicants here

  • ✕

    Writing a 'why Fairfield' supplement that doesn't engage with the Jesuit identity. You do not have to be Catholic, but you should engage with the institutional mission language.

  • ✕

    Applying to Arts and Sciences planning to transfer into Nursing. The Egan School internal transfer is one of the most competitive moves on campus.

  • ✕

    Treating Fairfield as a 'BC backup'. Fairfield's admit rate is in the low 30s and Nursing/Business are tighter; lazy framing reads as such.

  • ✕

    Skipping demonstrated interest. Fairfield tracks engagement and uses it in the read.

  • ✕

    Submitting low test scores in a test-optional cycle. If your score is below the middle 50%, omit.

The specifics for Fairfield University

What graduates actually do

Fairfield graduates cluster in finance (NYC and CT), consulting, education, healthcare, and law. The Dolan School of Business produces a notable Wall Street pipeline given Fairfield's proximity to NYC. Median early-career earnings run around $58-65k per Scorecard. The Jesuit identity drives an above-average rate of post-grad service (JVC, Teach for America) before professional careers. The alumni network is dense in Connecticut and NYC professional services.

Notable alumni

  • Don Cornelius — Soul Train creator (attended grad school)
  • Eileen Brennan — Oscar-nominated actress (faculty)
  • Jim O'Heir — actor (Parks and Recreation)
  • Charles Dolan — Cablevision founder
  • Robert Gilroy — former Navy admiral
  • Stephen Boyle — former Aer Lingus chairman

Transfer pathway

Fairfield admits transfers for fall and spring entry. Applicants need at least 12 transferable credits with strong academic standing. The application requires the Common App transfer form, official transcripts, college report, and academic recommendations.

Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App. Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.

If you're on the bubble

Fairfield rewards applicants who apply ED or EA with a school-specific supplement, demonstrate sustained service, and engage with the Jesuit mission. Applicants at GPA bands at or above the middle 50% with a clear school-of-application case are competitive. The Connecticut coastal setting, proximity to NYC, and Jesuit network are real differentiators worth naming in the supplement.

Next steps

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Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.

KidToCollege is free to use and editorially independent. Data sourced from public records including IPEDS, Common Data Sets, College Board and FAFSA.gov. Always verify deadlines and requirements directly with institutions. Not a guarantee of admission or financial aid.