Students at Fairfield University achieve exceptional long-term financial success, with graduates earning significantly more than peers at most other institutions nationwide.
The university's selective approach produces outstanding career outcomes that consistently place it among the top-performing private universities for graduate earnings.
Fairfield University delivers exceptional long-term financial outcomes that place it among the top-performing private universities nationwide. With graduates earning a median of $88,794 ten years after enrollment, Fairfield ranks in the 96th percentile nationally for earnings—a remarkable achievement that reflects both the university's academic rigor and its strong connections to high-paying employers. The university's selective admissions process, admitting only about 7% of Pell Grant recipients, creates a student body that is academically prepared and well-positioned for career success.
What makes Fairfield distinctive is how consistently its graduates achieve financial success across different fields of study. Whether students pursue nursing, finance, engineering, or liberal arts, they benefit from small class sizes, personalized attention, and extensive alumni networks that open doors to competitive positions. The university's location in Connecticut provides direct access to New York City's financial sector and Boston's healthcare and technology markets, creating abundant internship and career opportunities.
As a medium-sized private institution, Fairfield combines the resources of a comprehensive university with the personal attention of a smaller college. This approach produces graduates who are not only academically well-prepared but also professionally networked and career-ready, explaining why Fairfield alumni command such strong salaries in the competitive Northeast job market.
Fairfield University's program portfolio demonstrates clear strengths in professional fields that lead directly to high-paying careers. The nursing program stands out as both large-scale and high-return, graduating 183 students annually who earn a median of $76,749 ten years out—creating the university's highest aggregate economic impact. This reflects Fairfield's strategic positioning in healthcare education, where graduates benefit from strong clinical partnerships and high demand for qualified nurses throughout the Northeast.
Finance represents Fairfield's largest program with 168 graduates earning a solid $64,608 median salary, benefiting from the university's proximity to New York City's financial sector and extensive Wall Street alumni connections. Engineering programs, while smaller in scale with about 30 mechanical engineering graduates, produce some of the highest individual earners at $68,666, reflecting the premium that employers place on Fairfield's technical graduates.
Even in traditionally lower-earning fields, Fairfield maintains competitive outcomes. Psychology graduates earn $34,908, which while modest compared to professional programs, represents solid performance for liberal arts majors in the regional market. The university's strength lies not just in individual program excellence but in its ability to leverage alumni networks, career services, and employer relationships to create opportunities across diverse fields of study, ensuring that graduates in all majors benefit from Fairfield's reputation and connections.
Fairfield University graduates achieve outstanding long-term financial outcomes that consistently exceed national averages. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $88,794, placing the university in the 96th percentile nationally for earnings performance. This exceptional outcome reflects Fairfield's strong academic programs, extensive alumni networks, and strategic location providing access to high-paying markets in finance, healthcare, and technology. The university's 91% loan repayment rate demonstrates that graduates can comfortably service their educational investments while building wealth over time.
The university's strongest financial returns come from its nursing program, which graduates 183 students annually with median earnings of $76,749, creating the highest aggregate return among all programs. Finance majors, the largest program with 168 graduates, earn a solid $64,608 median salary and benefit from extensive Wall Street connections. Engineering programs, though smaller with about 30 mechanical engineering graduates, produce some of the highest individual earners at $68,666 median salary. Even traditionally lower-earning fields like psychology show respectable outcomes, with graduates earning $34,908—competitive for liberal arts majors at the regional level.
Fairfield's premium positioning in the private university market translates directly into career advantages. Graduates benefit from small class sizes, personalized faculty mentorship, and an extensive alumni network concentrated in high-paying industries throughout the Northeast corridor, particularly in finance, healthcare, and professional services sectors.
Fairfield University operates at premium pricing levels that reflect its positioning as a selective private institution. Low-income students face net prices of $32,161 annually, while middle-income families pay around $35,003, and high-income families see costs reach $49,644 per year. These price points place Fairfield in the bottom 2.4% nationally for affordability, making it one of the more expensive educational options available. The university's limited financial aid for lower-income students—with only 6.8% of students receiving Pell Grants—indicates that affordability remains a significant barrier for many families.
Debt levels reflect the university's premium pricing structure. Typical graduates carry $26,000 in federal student loan debt, a manageable amount given their strong earning potential, but families often supplement with Parent PLUS loans averaging $47,000. The combination of student and parent borrowing can create substantial family debt loads, though Fairfield's exceptional graduate earnings help justify these investments for families who can manage the upfront costs.
What makes Fairfield's pricing sustainable for many families is the strong return on investment it provides. With graduates earning nearly $89,000 ten years out and maintaining a 0% federal loan default rate, the university demonstrates that its premium pricing translates into career outcomes that support debt repayment and long-term financial success. For families with the resources to invest in Fairfield's education, the financial returns typically justify the substantial upfront costs.
Fairfield University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
