Fairfield University

fairfield.edu/

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2020 Undergraduate Tuition

$50,550

3% growth from 2019

2020 Average Net Price

$43,173

After Financial Aid

2018 Student Loan

2.26%

Default Rate

2020 Acceptance Rate

56.1%

12,586 Applicants

2020 Enrolled Students

5,513

87.3% Full-Time

2020 Graduation Rate

82.4%

869 Graduates

About

Fairfield University is a higher education institution located in Fairfield County, CT. In 2020, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at Fairfield University were Registered Nursing (183 degrees awarded), General Finance (168 degrees), and General Marketing & Marketing Management (117 degrees).

In 2020, 1,626 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Fairfield University. 64.3% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 35.7% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (1,259 degrees), 10.4 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (121 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Fairfield University is $50,550, which is $28,020 more than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($22,531).

Costs

The median undergraduate tuition at Fairfield University is $50,550, which is $28,020 more than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($22,531).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $43,173.

In 2020, 87% of undergraduate students attending Fairfield University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 51% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$50,550

2020 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2020, the cost of tuition at Fairfield University was $50,550. The cost of tuition at Fairfield University is $28,020 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($22,531).

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

Average Net Price

$43,173

2020 Value

9.17%

1 Year Growth

In 2020 Fairfield University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $43,173. Between 2019 and 2020, the average net price of Fairfield University grew by 9.17%.

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

$15,150

Room and Board

$1,150

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Fairfield University was of $15,150 in 2020. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,150. The cost of room and board increased by 2.99% between 2019 and 2020. 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 by Income Level

87%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

51%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

87% of undergraduate students at Fairfield University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2020. This represents a growth of 3.57% with respect to 2019, when 84% 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.

2.26%

2018 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2018 the default rate for borrower's at Fairfield University was 2.26%, which represents 18 out of the 797 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 12,586 undergraduate applications in 2020, which represents a 2.2% annual growth. Out of those 12,586 applicants, 7,065 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 56.1% acceptance rate.

There were 5,513 students enrolled at Fairfield University in 2020, and 50% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Fairfield University has an overall enrollment yield of 15.8%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

56.1%

Acceptance Rate in 2020

7,065

Accepted Out of 12,586

In 2020, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Fairfield University was 56.1% (7,065 admissions from 12,586 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2019, which was 57.1%. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of applicants grew by 2.2%, while admissions grew by 0.426%.

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

SAT Scores

50%

Submission Percentage

554

Scores Submitted

50% of enrolled first-time students at Fairfield University in 2020 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 5,513 students. The full-time enrollment at Fairfield University is 4,813 students and the part-time enrollment is 700. This means that 87.3% of students enrolled at Fairfield University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Fairfield University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 75.3% White, 8.07% Hispanic or Latino, 2.83% Asian, 2.58% Black or African American, 1.63% Two or More Races, 0.0726% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0363% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Fairfield University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (46.6%), followed by White Male (31.4%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (4.11%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (41.4%), followed by White Male (21.3%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (8.59%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

87.3%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Fairfield University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 5,513 students. The full-time enrollment at Fairfield University is 4,813 and the part-time enrollment is 700. This means that 87.3% of students enrolled at Fairfield University are enrolled full-time compared with 68.8% 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

92%

2020 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 92%. 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
4,150
Hispanic or Latino
445
Asian
156

The enrolled student population at Fairfield University is 75.3% White, 8.07% Hispanic or Latino, 2.83% Asian, 2.58% Black or African American, 1.63% Two or More Races, 0.0726% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0363% 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 52.6% White, 16.6% Hispanic or Latino, and 13% 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, 300 students (5.44%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2020, 464 more women than men received degrees from Fairfield University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Fairfield University is white (1,259 degrees awarded). There were 10.4 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (121 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Fairfield University is Registered Nursing (183 degrees awarded), followed by General Finance (168 degrees) and General Marketing & Marketing Management (117 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 Communications (122 degrees awarded), English (56 degrees), and Business (565 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Accountants & auditors

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 Accountants & auditors (1,087,922 people), Other managers (1,036,386 people), Software developers (522,437 people), Financial managers (503,561 people), and Chief executives & legislators (491,380 people).

The most specialized majors at Fairfield University are Communications (122 degrees awarded), English (56 degrees), Business (565 degrees), Math & Statistics (33 degrees), and Engineering (104 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, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, Physicians, and Chief executives & legislators

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 (952,230 people), Elementary & secondary schools (898,213 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (730,626 people), Construction (616,990 people), and Banking & related activities (578,139 people).

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

Registered Nursing
183 degree-majorss awarded
General Finance
168 degree-majorss awarded
General Marketing & Marketing Management
117 degree-majorss awarded

In 2020, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Fairfield University was Registered Nursing with 183 degrees awarded.

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

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

581

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2020

1,045

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2020

In 2020, 581 degrees were awarded to men at Fairfield University, which is 0.556 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (1,045).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2020, 126 degrees were awarded to men at Fairfield University in General Finance, which is 3 times more than the 42 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2020, 182 degrees were awarded to women at Fairfield University in Registered Nursing, which is 30.3 times more than the 6 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

78%

100% Completion Time

81%

150% Completion Time

In 2020, 78% of students graduating from Fairfield University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 81% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 81% 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.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

American Indian or Alaska Native Female

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate at Fairfield University is Female and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Masters Colleges and Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.4%).

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, 2.76% of graduates (24 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
1,259 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
121 degrees awarded
Unknown
63 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Fairfield University is white (1,259 degrees awarded). There were 10.4 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (121 degrees).

3.87% of degree recipients (63 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic

White Female
822 degrees awarded
White Male
437 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
80 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Fairfield University is white female (822 degrees awarded). There were 1.88 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (437 degrees).

Operations

Fairfield University has an endowment valued at nearly $317M, as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $−NaNM (−4.54%), compared to the 3.19% average return ($1.26M on $39.6M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2020, Fairfield University had a total salary expenditure of $210M. Fairfield University employs 107 Associate professors, 98 Assistant professors, and 81 Professors. Most academics at Fairfield University are Female Associate professors (62), Female Assistant professors(59), and Male Associate professors (45).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Fairfield University are: Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 120 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 105 employees, and Management with 82 employees.

Endowment

$317M

2020 Endowment

6.56%

decline from 2019

Fairfield University has an endowment valued at about $317M, as of the end of the 2020 fiscal year. The endowment of Fairfield University declined 6.56% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $278M 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

$4.59M - Federal
$356k - State
$0 - Local

As of 2020, Fairfield University received $4.59M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $356k from state grants and contracts, and $0 from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$89.7M

2020 Salaries

2.59%

growth from 2019

In 2020, Fairfield University paid a median of $89.7M in salaries, which represents 42.8% of their overall expenditure ($210M) and a 2.59% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 13.5% growth from 2018 and a 3.78% growth from 2017.

The median for similar Masters Colleges and Universities is 34.6M (40.9% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$32.3M

Instructional Salaries

312

Number of Employees

In 2020, Fairfield University paid a total of $32.3M to 312 employees working as instructors, which represents 36% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $11M (31.8%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Occupations by Share

Associate professor

Most Common Instructor

107 Employees

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

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

120 Employees

In 2020, the most common positions for instructional staff at Fairfield University were Associate professor with 107 employees; Assistant professor with 98 employees; and Assistant professor with 81 employees.

In 2020, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Fairfield University were Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 120 employees; Office and Administrative Support with 105 employees; and Management with 82 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic

Female Associate professor
Female Assistant professor
Male Associate professor

In 2020, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Fairfield University was Female Associate professor with 62 employees, Female Assistant professor with 59 employees, and Male Associate professor with 45 employees.

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