Fairfield University
Fairfield, Connecticut · Private Nonprofit · 33.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 79/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Fairfield University scores 79 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, a number driven by a 6.2-year payback period, an 84.3% completion rate, and $56,500 average 6-year earnings - the latter rising to a median $88,794 at 10 years. Fairfield is a Jesuit university in southwestern Connecticut, 60 miles from New York City, with a strong business school and nursing program that anchor its best financial outcomes. Net price of $48,095 is high, but the payback period and strong completions make the math work for students in the top programs. Finance and Financial Management leads by graduate volume (254 graduates) at $62,952 year-one and $106,663 at year four. Economics (52 graduates) earns $74,023 at year one and $120,303 at year four. Registered Nursing (197 graduates) earns $91,418 at year one. The 6.9% Pell grant rate is notably low - Fairfield's student body is predominantly from higher-income families, and the net price of $48,095 reflects an institution with limited need-based aid reach at the bottom of the income distribution. The Business and Nursing tracks produce genuinely strong outcomes; humanities and English programs carry D-grade ROI scores and require different financial justifications.
The median graduate earns $88,794 ten years after entry - well above the roughly $53,600 median across the schools we score.
Fairfield University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $58,350/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $58,350/yr |
| Average net price | $48,095/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $192,380 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $88,794 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $56,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $276 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 84.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,373 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $58,350/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $48,095/year, or roughly $192,380 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $33,302/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $50,773/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,000, which works out to about $276 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($56,500) and comes to 0.46, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $33,302 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $35,155 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $26,953 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $44,077 |
| $110,001+ | $50,773 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $33,302 net per year at Fairfield - a steep ask for low-income families. The institution's 6.9% Pell rate reflects the limited reach of its need-based aid. Four years at this price produces roughly $133,000 in costs. For low-income students, the case rests almost entirely on whether they secure a seat in Finance, Nursing, or Accounting - programs where $90,000+ in four-year costs can be serviced by strong post-graduation earnings. For other programs, the cost burden is very high.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $26,953 per year - the lowest point in Fairfield's income schedule, showing an inversion where this bracket receives the most aid. The 75001-110000 bracket jumps to $44,077, suggesting the aid formula compresses rapidly above $75,000. Middle-income families in the $48,000-$75,000 range should note this advantage and run the net price calculator carefully, as it may be a more favorable enrollment tier than the headline net price suggests.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $50,773 net per year - essentially full cost. At $203,000 over four years, the investment case depends entirely on program track. Finance, Nursing, and Economics graduates at Fairfield can service that cost; humanities, arts, and social science graduates face a far more difficult payback period at full price.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Fairfield University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management | $106,663 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $101,831 | B+ |
| Marketing | $86,740 | C+ |
| Accounting | $110,586 | B |
| Psychology | $70,211 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $78,081 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $84,962 | C+ |
| Economics | $120,303 | B |
| Mechanical Engineering | $91,633 | B |
| International Relations | $83,709 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance is Fairfield's largest program at 254 graduates and anchors the business school's value case: $62,952 at year one and $106,663 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.429 (ROI grade B). Finance graduates from a Connecticut school 60 miles from Wall Street enter a labor market where banking, asset management, and insurance employers recruit actively. The four-year trajectory to $106,663 reflects finance career progression. Median debt of $27,000 is manageable against these earnings.
Economics
Economics (52 graduates) earns $74,023 at year one and $120,303 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.358 (ROI grade B). These are strong numbers - the year-one figure of $74,023 and the four-year trajectory to $120k reflect finance and consulting career arcs. Median debt of $26,500 is reasonable against these earnings. Economics at Fairfield, with proximity to New York financial markets, is a credible four-year investment for the right student.
Accounting
Accounting (115 graduates) earns $71,747 at year one and $110,586 at year four (ROI grade B, debt-to-earnings 0.371). Accounting is a high-demand path into Big Four and regional firm public accounting careers, and Fairfield's proximity to Hartford and Stamford financial services markets supports strong placement. The four-year figure of $110,586 reflects senior associate and manager-level compensation at CPA-track firms. This is one of the more defensible ROI programs at Fairfield's price point.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (197 graduates) earns $91,418 at year one and $101,831 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.295 (ROI grade B+). Nursing at Fairfield is a competitive program that places graduates into Connecticut and New York metropolitan healthcare markets, where hospital wages are strong. The year-one figure of $91,418 reflects this premium. Despite Fairfield's high net price, nursing graduates are positioned to service their $27,000 median debt quickly.
Marketing
Marketing (157 graduates) earns $53,891 at year one and $86,740 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.501 (ROI grade C+). The four-year trajectory to $86k is reasonable for marketing professionals in the Northeast. Year-one earnings of $53,891 are a decent entry point, though $27,000 in median debt requires disciplined repayment. Students in this program benefit from Fairfield's NYC-proximity recruiting access - marketing roles at media, tech, and consumer brands in the New York metro are a realistic target.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 84.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 85.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 85.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 91.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Fairfield University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 33.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 630-690 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 630-700 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 29-32 |
| Enrollment | 5,373 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 6.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,298 |
Fairfield's 33.3% admission rate places it in the moderately selective tier. SAT 630-700 Reading and 630-690 Math describe the middle range; the ACT composite of 29-32 is the parallel floor. Test scores are necessary but not sufficient; Fairfield's Jesuit mission emphasizes service, whole-person formation, and community. The low Pell rate (6.9%) signals that institutional aid is concentrated among higher-income families - students below $30,000 annual income see net prices of $33,302 per year, which is still a heavy commitment relative to outcomes for most programs.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Fairfield's payback period is 6.2 years and its completion rate is 84.3%. Its Pell rate is 6.9%.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield University (this school) | 79 | $48,095 | $88,794 |
| University of Rochester | 85 | $29,278 | $79,042 |
| Case Western Reserve University | 85 | $41,190 | $87,989 |
| Brandeis University | 77 | $35,736 | $77,231 |
| Albertus Magnus College | 39 | $34,028 | $60,144 |
| University of Bridgeport | 27 | $27,807 | $50,323 |
Who Thrives Here
Fairfield admits 33.3% of applicants, with SAT mid-ranges of 630-690 Math and 630-700 Reading, and ACT composite 29-32. Enrollment is 5,373, giving it the feel of a mid-sized private university. The student body skews affluent - Pell rate is 6.9% - and the campus culture reflects a residential, Catholic university 60 miles from Manhattan. Students drawn to finance, accounting, nursing, and business management in a Northeastern coastal market find the most direct ROI here.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Fairfield University pays off. You'd pay about $48,095 a year after aid ($192,380 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $88,794 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.2 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: its 84.3% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $26,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $56,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Fairfield University: Common Questions
Is Fairfield University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Fairfield University pays off. It scores 79/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $48,095 a year after aid ($192,380 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $88,794 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.2 years to earn back.
How much does Fairfield University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $48,095 a year, or roughly $192,380 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Fairfield University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $88,794 ten years after enrolling, roughly $46,994 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Fairfield University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 6.2 years for Fairfield University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Fairfield University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,000, against average earnings of $56,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Fairfield University?
The six-year graduation rate is 84.3%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.