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New London, CT · Fairfield, CT
| Connecticut College | Fairfield University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $36,175/yr | $48,095/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $13,341/yr | $33,302/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $23,500 | $26,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $16,892/yr | $35,155/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $28,961/yr | $26,953/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $29,797/yr | $44,077/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $47,031/yr | $50,773/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $249/mo | $276/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $18,558/yr | $19,838/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $18,558/yr | $19,838/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,000/yr | $1,175/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $1,000/yr | $2,005/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $84,623/yr | $76,074/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $67,242/yr | $58,350/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $67,242/yr | $58,350/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 14% | 6.9% |
| Students taking federal loans | 35% | 43% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 37% | 33% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1350–1500 | 1260–1390 |
| SAT average | 1432 | 1335 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 30–33 | 29–32 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 30–35 · Math 26–32 | No data reported |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 9,397 | 15,463 |
| Students accepted | 3,597 | 6,956 |
| Students who enrolled | 555 | 1,436 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 15% | 21% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 18% | 21% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 8% | 5% |
| High-school GPA | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 82% | 84% |
| Freshmen who come back | 90% | 91% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $75,001/yr | $88,794/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $46,471–$120,051 | $56,485–$120,240 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 84% | 84% |
| White students graduating | 81% | 87% |
| Black students graduating | 83% | 42% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 77% | 70% |
| Asian students graduating | 83% | 85% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $49,165/yr | $73,693/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 85% | 90% |
| Graduate on time | 76% | 82% |
| Pell students who graduate | 90% | 69% |
| First-gen students who finish | 88% | 81% |
| Low-income students who finish | No data reported | 81% |
| Students who transfer out | 17% | 12% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $71,333/yr | $87,663/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Social Sciences 24% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 22% · Psychology 11% | Business, Management & Marketing 41% · Health Professions 19% · Communication & Journalism 8% |
| Most popular program | Social Sciences — 24% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 41% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 22% of degrees | Health Professions — 19% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Psychology — 11% of degrees | Communication & Journalism — 8% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 11% of degrees | Psychology — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 7% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 5% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Computer Science — $86,403/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $118,169/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 31% | 12% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,937 | 5,373 |
| Students per professor | 9 : 1 | 12 : 1 |
| Graduate students | No data reported | 1,473 |
| Average professor pay | $7,781/mo | $13,298/mo |
| Full-time professors | 78% | 100% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
| Median family income | $89,003 | $117,152 |
| Setting | City (small) | Suburb (large) |
| Location | New London, CT | Fairfield, CT |
| Region | New England | New England |
| Founded | 1911 | 1942 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | Doctoral/Professional Universities |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 5.8% | 1.9% |
| Men | 39% | 42% |
| Women | 61% | 58% |
| White students | 68% | 79% |
| Black students | 4.8% | 1.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 12% | 8.9% |
| Asian students | 3.3% | 1.8% |
| Two or more races | 4.1% | 2% |
| Other / not reported | 2.4% | 4.8% |
| Special type | None | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 14% | 17% |
| Part-time students | 0.1% | 0.9% |
| Students age 25+ | 0.4% | 1% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $12,417/yr | $15,558/yr |
| Endowment | $482.4M | $411.1M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,947 | 3,959 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $10,325/yr | $10,700/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $7,560/yr | $7,700/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 20 meals/week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | No data reported | Roman Catholic |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | No |
| ROTC | No | Yes — Army, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | No | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | No | No |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III without football | NCAA Division I without football |
| Football team | No | No |
| Varsity teams | 28 | 20 |
| Student athletes | 622 | 505 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $9.9M |
| Athletics budget | $6.2M | $30.2M |
| Athletics revenue | $6.2M | $30.2M |
| Recruiting spend | $134,623 | $345,393 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.