Fairfield University
Fairfield, Connecticut · Private · 5,373 undergraduates · fairfield.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
25%
of 21,299 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1280 to 1370
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$91,700Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Fairfield University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
25% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$91,700
a year in 2027-28, from a $91,700 sticker price
What to do with your 1330
Send your score
About 80% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1250, and yours is above it.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
Source: First-Year Applicants | Fairfield University · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Early Action · November 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Nov15Early Decision · November 15, 2026Binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll.
- Jan15Early Decision II · January 15, 2027A second binding round, after Early Decision.
- Jan15Regular Decision · January 15, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
25%
of applicants were admitted: 5,336 of 21,299 for fall 2025.
Early Action
Not binding. Apply by 11/1, hear by 12/20.
Early Decision
Binding. 82% of early applicants were admitted.
Wait list
10,741 students were offered a spot; 15 were later admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 17% of them sent SAT scores and 4% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1280 to 1370
Reading and Writing 640 to 700
Math 630 to 690
ACT composite 29 to 32
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 160018%
- 1200 to 139977%
- 1000 to 11995%
- 800 to 9990%
- 600 to 7990%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.71
- 4.028%
- 3.75 to 3.9922%
- 3.50 to 3.7421%
- 3.25 to 3.4915%
- 3.00 to 3.248%
- 2.50 to 2.995%
- Below 2.501%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$91,700
a year
- Tuition$64,310
- Fees$1,460
- Food and housing$22,490
- Books and supplies$1,270
- Transportation and other$2,170
Fairfield University published $84,780 for 2025-26. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$30,752
- $30,001 to $48,000$35,919
- $48,001 to $75,000$37,768
- $75,001 to $110,000$42,341
- Over $110,000$53,583
Financial aid
76%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$32,045
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
62%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $22,587 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Required. It's a second, more detailed aid form some colleges use for their own grants.
- Aid priority date: 12/1
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
- Aid deadline: 1/15
- The last day to send aid forms.
- Also asks for
- Non-Custodial Parent Profile
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Connecticut programs for residents
Roberta B. Willis Scholarship - Need-Based/Merit (Need and Merit-Based) Award
$4,650 to $5,250 a year
State program · In-state students
- 1200+ SAT or 25+ ACT, Need-merit award (rank or test pathway); Financial need: SAI at or below OHE cutoff for the award year; HS counselor submits application on student's behalf and FAFSA filed by Feb 15
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
31 of 31
Earn credit with a score of 3
None
You need a 4 or 5 for credit here.
A 3-credit course is worth
about $6,430Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | SART 1016 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | SART 1011 |
| African American Studies | 4 | 3 | HIST 2000 |
| Art History | 4 | 3 | AHST 1004 |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | BIOL 1015 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 | MATH 1171 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | MATH 1171 - 1172 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 3 | CHEM 11083 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POLI 1102 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 3 | CPSC 1131 |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 3 | ELCT 1000 |
| Drawing | 4 | 3 | SART 1012 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | Elective |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | Elective |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 3 | BIOL 1076 |
| European History | 4 | 3 | HIST 2000 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | FREN 2210 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | GRMN 2210 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | ITLN 2210 |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 3 | ECON 1012 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 3 | ECON 1011 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 3 | PHYS 1145 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 3 | PHYS 1146 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 4 | PHYS 1172 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 4 | PHYS 1171 |
| Psychology | 4 | 3 | PSYC 1010 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | SPAN 2210 |
| Statistics | 4 | 3 | MATH 2217 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POLI 1102 |
| United States History | 4 | 3 | HIST 2000 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 3 | HIST 2000 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
85%
Come back for a second year
91%
Typical earnings
$101,587
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Fairfield University$104,646
- All colleges$90,887
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 15 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Fairfield University. The Fairfield University logo is a trademark of the college.