Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Fairfield University #750 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $91,378, placing Fairfield University in the 93.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Fairfield University sits in the 91.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Fairfield University #750 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Fairfield, CT, Fairfield University enrolls roughly 5,373 undergraduates. Retention is 91.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 84.3%, placing the institution among the stronger performers nationally for converting enrollment into degree completion. Where Fairfield University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Fairfield University #64 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $14,118 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Fairfield University in the 91.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The strength in return reflects both the institution's business-focused program portfolio and consistent outcomes across its degree offerings. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Fairfield University sits in the 38.1 percentile for access and the 1.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 6.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 16.5% are first-generation college students, reflecting a more selective admissions posture that shapes the institution's overall profile. Mobility outcomes place Fairfield University in the 48.6 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, indicating solid career progression for graduates relative to peer institutions.
Fairfield University's published cost of attendance is $76,074. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $33,302, middle-income families pay around $26,953, and higher-income families pay approximately $50,773. Azimuth ranks Fairfield University #1407 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Fairfield University participates in federal need-based aid programs including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, supplemented by institutional merit and need-based scholarships. The aid structure combines need-based grants with loans and work-study opportunities as part of the financial aid package. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to have their financial need assessed and to receive an individualized aid offer. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $50,500; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at Fairfield University's median four-year earnings of $91,378, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Fairfield University is a strong fit for students interested in Business and related applied fields who want a private university experience in CT. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $91,378, placing Fairfield University in the 93.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $14,118 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 91.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a moderate share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 6.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 16.5% are first-generation — and delivers outcomes that place Fairfield University in the 92.9 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 33.3% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business and related applied fields. Students whose interests align with these areas and who can navigate the application process will find strong earnings outcomes and a supportive aid structure.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Fairfield University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Fairfield University's published cost of attendance is $76,074. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $33,302, middle-income families pay around $26,953, and higher-income families pay approximately $50,773.
Azimuth ranks Fairfield University #1407 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Fairfield University participates in federal need-based aid programs including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, supplemented by institutional merit and need-based scholarships. The aid structure combines need-based grants with loans and work-study opportunities as part of the financial aid package.
Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to have their financial need assessed and to receive an individualized aid offer. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $50,500; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at Fairfield University's median four-year earnings of $91,378, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Fairfield University earn median 4-year earnings of $91,378, placing Fairfield University in the 93.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $14,118 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Fairfield University in the 91.6 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Fairfield University #64 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Fairfield University's concentration in business and professional fields.
Nursing is the largest program with 213 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $101,831, performing at 1.1x the national benchmark for the field. The Finance program graduates 183 students with median 4-year earnings of $106,663, and Digital Marketing delivers median 4-year earnings of $86,740 across 148 graduates.
Together, these programs anchor Fairfield University's strong outcomes and reflect the institution's focus on fields with direct labor-market alignment and sustained earning power.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fordham University Higher acceptance rate (11.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 39 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 56% | $85,569 | Compare |
Marist College Higher acceptance rate (19.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 52 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 65% | $77,819 | Compare |
New Jersey Institute Of Technology Higher acceptance rate (21.9 percentage points higher) and located 56 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NJ | 67% | $84,276 | Compare |
Saint Joseph's University Higher acceptance rate (41.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | PA | 86% | $86,881 | Compare |
Bryant University Higher acceptance rate (20.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | RI | 66% | $90,008 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Suffolk University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15737 ranked) | MA | 82% | $67,506 | #15737 | Compare |
University Of Redlands Similar quality tier (#15726 ranked) | CA | 83% | $72,690 | #15726 | Compare |
St. Joseph's University-New York Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15767 ranked) | NY | 72% | $63,905 | #15767 | Compare |
Clarkson University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15720 ranked) | NY | 77% | $89,696 | #15720 | Compare |
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott Similar quality tier (#15778 ranked) | AZ | 77% | $84,131 | #15778 | Compare |
Economics
42 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
121 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
183 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
213 graduates
International Business
18 graduates
Fairfield University's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a Jesuit business-focused private university. Nursing is the largest program with 213 graduates annually, followed by Finance, Digital Marketing, Accounting, and Psychology, General.
Across 32 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with particular strength concentrated in business and finance-adjacent fields. The earnings pattern reflects the institution's professional orientation.
Economics leads with median earnings of $120,303 four years after enrollment, followed by Accounting at $110,586 and Finance at $106,663. Nursing, the institution's largest program, graduates 213 students annually and delivers median earnings of $101,831 four years after enrollment.
Finance and Digital Marketing round out the enrollment leaders with 183 and 148 graduates respectively, both supporting strong early-career financial outcomes aligned with regional employer demand in Connecticut and the Northeast. The program portfolio emphasizes direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes.
Business and professional fields dominate the degree output, positioning Fairfield University graduates for stable entry into accounting, finance, management, and related sectors. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these professional fields align with sustained regional and national labor-market demand.
