Fairfield University

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2017 Undergraduate Tuition

$46,490

2.51% growth from 2016

2017 Average Net Price

$37,799

After Financial Aid

2016 Student Loan

1.99%

Default Rate

2017 Acceptance Rate

60.6%

11,218 Applicants

2017 Enrolled Students

5,192

83.9% Full-Time

About

Fairfield University is a higher education institution located in Fairfield County, CT. In 2016, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at Fairfield University were General Finance (145 degrees awarded), Registered Nursing (133 degrees), and General Marketing & Marketing Management (112 degrees).

In 2017, 1,526 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Fairfield University. 60.6% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 39.4% awarded men. The majority of degree recipients were white (1,080 degrees), 8.44 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, unknown (128 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Fairfield University is $46,490, which is $25,757 more than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($20,733).

Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Masters Colleges and Universities

Costs

The median undergraduate tuition at Fairfield University is $46,490, which is $25,757 more than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($20,733).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $37,799.

In 2017, 81% of undergraduate students received federal grants, while 53% of undergraduate students received federal loans.

Student Expenses

Tuition Costs

$46,490

2017 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2017, the cost of tuition at Fairfield University was $46,490. The cost of tuition at Fairfield University is $25,757 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($20,733).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Fairfield University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$37,799

2017 Value

1.89%

1 Year Growth

In 2017 Fairfield University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $37,799. Between 2016 and 2017, the average net price of Fairfield University grew by 1.89%.

This chart compares the average net price of Fairfield University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$13,860

Room and Board

$1,150

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Fairfield University was of $13,860 in 2017. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,150. The cost of room and board increased by 2.51% between 2016 and 2017. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Fairfield University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid by Income Level

81%

Of Undergraduates Receive Grants

53%

Of Undergraduates Receive Federal Loans

81% of undergraduate students at Fairfield University received grants or loans in 2017. This represents a growth of 2.53% with respect to 2016, when 79% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Fairfield University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

1.99%

2016 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2016 the default rate for borrower's at Fairfield University was 1.99%, which represents 17 out of the 856 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Fairfield University received 11,218 undergraduate applications in 2017, which represents a 1.47% annual growth. Out of those 11,218 applicants, 6,794 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 60.6% acceptance rate.

There were 5,192 students enrolled at Fairfield University in 2017, and N/A% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Fairfield University has an overall enrollment yield of 14.6%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

60.6%

Acceptance Rate in 2017

6,794

Accepted Out of 11,218

In 2017, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Fairfield University was 60.6% (6,794 admissions from 11,218 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2016, which was 61.5%. Between 2016 and 2017, the number of applicants grew by 1.47%, while admissions declined by -0.0147%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Fairfield University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

SAT Scores

N/A%

Submission Percentage

N/A

Scores Submitted

N/A% of enrolled first-time students at Fairfield University in 2017 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Fairfield University has a total enrollment of 5,192 students. The full-time enrollment at Fairfield University is 4,355 students and the part-time enrollment is 837. This means that 83.9% of students enrolled at Fairfield University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Fairfield University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 75.4% White, 7.82% Hispanic or Latino, 2.85% Black or African American, 2.39% Asian, 1.52% Two or More Races, 0.077% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0385% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Fairfield University in full-time Undergraduate programs are majority White Female (48.6%), followed by White Male (30.6%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (4.23%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are majority White Female (49.2%), followed by White Male (18.5%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (6.93%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

83.9%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Fairfield University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 5,192 students. The full-time enrollment at Fairfield University is 4,355 and the part-time enrollment is 837. This means that 83.9% of students enrolled at Fairfield University are enrolled full-time compared with 68.6% at similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Fairfield University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

90%

2017 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Fairfield University was 90%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (75%), Fairfield University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Fairfield University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity

White
3,916
Hispanic or Latino
406
Black or African American
148

The enrolled student population at Fairfield University is 75.4% White, 7.82% Hispanic or Latino, 2.85% Black or African American, 2.39% Asian, 1.52% Two or More Races, 0.077% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0385% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Masters Colleges and Universities is 54.4% White, 15% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.2% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 288 students (5.55%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2017, 322 more women than men received degrees from Fairfield University. The majority of degree recipients at Fairfield University are white (1,080 degrees awarded). There were 8.44 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, unknown (128 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Fairfield University is General Finance (145 degrees awarded), followed by Registered Nursing (133 degrees) and General Marketing & Marketing Management (112 degrees).

The most specialized majors across all degree types at Fairfield University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are English (65 degrees awarded), Communications (113 degrees), and Philosophy and Religious Studies (15 degrees).

Workforce

Common Jobs by Major

Other managers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Fairfield University are Other managers (470,837 people), Software developers (410,421 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (308,347 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (279,821 people), and Postsecondary teachers (232,357 people).

The most specialized majors at Fairfield University are English (65 degrees awarded), Communications (113 degrees), Philosophy and Religious Studies (15 degrees), Math & Statistics (36 degrees), and Engineering (135 degrees).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Fairfield University are Surgeons, Electrical & electronics engineers, Chemists & materials scientists, Dentists, and Physicians

Common Industries by Major

Computer Systems Design

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Fairfield University are Computer Systems Design (560,675 people), Elementary & secondary schools (523,502 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (474,706 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (419,267 people), and Construction (299,786 people).

Degrees

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Fairfield University.

Most Common

General Finance
145 degree-majorss awarded
Registered Nursing
133 degree-majorss awarded
General Marketing & Marketing Management
112 degree-majorss awarded

In 2017, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Fairfield University was General Finance with 145 degree-majorss awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Fairfield University according to their major.

Gender Breakdown for Common Majors

Degrees Awarded to Men

In 2017, 602 degrees were awarded to men at Fairfield University, which is 0.652 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (924).

This chart displays the gender disparity between the top 5 majors at Fairfield University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2017, 116 degrees were awarded to men at Fairfield University in General Finance, which is 4 times more than the 29 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2017, 128 degrees were awarded to women at Fairfield University in Registered Nursing, which is 9.14 times more than the 14 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

78%

100% Completion Time

82%

150% Completion Time

In 2017, 78% of students graduating from Fairfield University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 82% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 82% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Masters Colleges and Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Diversity

Graduation Rate by Race and Gender

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

N/A

Highest Graduation Rate (N/A%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate at Fairfield University is N/A and N/A (N/A% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (68.1%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, N/A% of graduates (N/A students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
1,080 degrees awarded
Unknown
128 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
100 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Fairfield University is white (1,080 degrees awarded). There were 8.44 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, unknown (128 degrees).

8.39% of degree recipients (128 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Gender

Most Common Gender Demographic

White Female
663 degrees awarded
White Male
417 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
64 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and gender grouping at Fairfield University is white female (663 degrees awarded). There were 1.59 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (417 degrees).

Operations

Fairfield University has an endowment valued at nearly $349M, as of the end of the 2017 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $41.7M (11.9%), compared to the 6.94% average return ($2.3M on $33.1M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2017, Fairfield University had a total salary expenditure of $187M. Fairfield University employs 90 Associate professors, 84 Assistant professors, and 76 Professors. Most academics at Fairfield University are Female Assistant professors (51), Female Associate professors(47), and Male Associate professors (43).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Fairfield University are: Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 142 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 105 employees, and Management with 100 employees.

Finances

Endowment

$349M

2017 Endowment

12.6%

growth from 2016

Fairfield University has an endowment valued at about $349M, as of the end of the 2017 fiscal year. The endowment of Fairfield University grew 12.6% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $316M higher than than the median endowment of Masters Colleges and Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Fairfield University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$3.01M - Federal
$319k - State
$0 - Local

As of 2017, Fairfield University received $3.01M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $319k from state grants and contracts, and $0 from local grants and contracts.

Expenses

Salary Expenditure

$74.3M

2017 Salaries

3.61%

growth from 2016

In 2017, Fairfield University paid a median of $74.3M in salaries, which represents 39.7% of their overall expenditure ($187M) and a 3.61% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 3.55% growth from 2015 and a 3.51% growth from 2014.

The median for similar Masters Colleges and Universities is 31.4M (40.5% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$26.8M

Instructional Salaries

267

Number of Employees

In 2017, Fairfield University paid a total of $26.8M to 267 employees working as instructors, which represents 36.1% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $10.4M (33%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Faculty and Staff

Occupations by Share

Associate professor

Most Common Instructor

90 Employees

Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

142 Employees

In 2017, the most common positions for instructional staff at Fairfield University were Associate professor with 90 employees; Assistant professor with 84 employees; and Assistant professor with 76 employees.

In 2017, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Fairfield University were Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 142 employees; Office and Administrative Support with 105 employees; and Management with 100 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Gender

Most Common Demographic

Female Assistant professor
Female Associate professor
Male Associate professor

In 2017, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Fairfield University was Female Assistant professor with 51 employees, Female Associate professor with 47 employees, and Male Associate professor with 43 employees.

This chart shows the gender split between each academic rank present at Fairfield University.

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