A Visit to Fairfield University

Fairfield University, a Jesuit Catholic university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, is a great campus for students who want to be close to both the beach and New York City, which is an hour’s train ride away. It is a values-based, student-centered school focused on outcomes and has a 98% job placement rate. Downtown Fairfield bustles with restaurants, shops, businesses and attractions; it is a great college town.

Five smiling students behind Glee Club information table with sunny campus in background — Leo D Mahoney Arena

Stag mascot in arena in front of empty red seats and Home of the Stags signage — Leo D Mahoney Arena

Academics
Fairfield has a core curriculum, direct-entry honors program and small intimate classes (no lecture halls). Students must apply to a specific school, but they can apply undecided and declare a major by the end of sophomore year. They do have the flexibility to switch from liberal arts to business, which is the school’s largest college. About half of Fairfield’s business students major in finance, which is more selective than the other business programs. There also is a master’s in finance program. The city of Fairfield, and Connecticut in general, has a lot of hedge fund jobs.

Smiling students in Fairfield sweatshirts talking while sitting on concrete wall on sunny fall day

Fairfield University has a selective, direct-entry nursing program that students cannot transfer into. It accepts about 50% of applicants and seeks students with demonstrated strength in science and math. Students have the option to apply to the university’s engineering program undeclared, with the exception of biomedical engineering. The university’s large computer science program, also part of the School of Engineering and Computing, has about a 50% acceptance rate. About 86-92% of Fairfield graduates who go on to apply to medical school are accepted.

Bellarmine Hall, an elegant brick mansion and courtyard — Elegant Bellamine Hall

Fast Facts about Fairfield University:
4300 undergraduates; grown 1000+ students in 5 years
65% of students Catholic
Geographically diverse; 76% students out-of-state
92% retention rate
Division 1 (non-football)
School spirit for basketball, hockey
No Greek life
Study abroad and internships
Arts & Sciences students get paid ($2,500) internship
Good (non-audition) theater
Modern campus, new facilities and sports arena
A Minnesota connection – the University of Minnesota’s new president graduated from Fairfield

Admissions:
44% acceptance rate
27-31 ACT range
3.79 GPA
Accepts Common App
Test optional
Interview encouraged
Tracks demonstrated interest
EA, ED 1 and 2
High ED acceptance rate
Merit aid up to $2800; most students get some merit

Sailing student in black Fairfield jacket on white boat in calm water — Fairfield Sailing Club on a Fall afternoon.

Student Life
All freshmen live on campus and housing is available all four years, including beach houses, and many students live on the beach senior year. The college is working on becoming more diverse, but all students will feel welcome, and LQBTQ students will feel supported. There is an active Jewish student center.

Who Would Be Happy Here?
Students who want good employment opportunities and want to be involved in college and do volunteer work. Also students who are active, work hard, love the beach, and like the idea of having access to New York City. According to the Princeton Review, Fairfield is one of the top 2 colleges in the county for happy kids!