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Fairfield, CT · Middletown, CT
| Fairfield University | Wesleyan University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $48,095/yr | $30,177/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $33,302/yr | $4,871/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $26,000 | $17,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $35,155/yr | $3,604/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $26,953/yr | $6,175/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $44,077/yr | $17,294/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $50,773/yr | $51,140/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $276/mo | $180/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $19,838/yr | $19,872/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $19,838/yr | $19,872/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,175/yr | $1,200/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $2,005/yr | $1,550/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $76,074/yr | $89,020/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $58,350/yr | $70,342/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $58,350/yr | $70,342/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 6.9% | 14% |
| Students taking federal loans | 43% | 16% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 33% | 16% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1260–1390 | 1415–1540 |
| SAT average | 1335 | 1501 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 29–32 | 33–35 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | No data reported | English 34–35 · Math 30–34 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 15,463 | 14,500 |
| Students accepted | 6,956 | 2,479 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,436 | 782 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 21% | 32% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 21% | 28% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 5% | 14% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| 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 | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 84% | 93% |
| Freshmen who come back | 91% | 95% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $88,794/yr | $73,897/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $56,485–$120,240 | $46,198–$125,026 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 84% | 93% |
| White students graduating | 87% | 93% |
| Black students graduating | 42% | 95% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 70% | 90% |
| Asian students graduating | 85% | 88% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $73,693/yr | $60,385/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 90% | 79% |
| Graduate on time | 82% | 81% |
| Pell students who graduate | 69% | 93% |
| First-gen students who finish | 81% | 90% |
| Low-income students who finish | 81% | No data reported |
| Students who transfer out | 12% | 4.6% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $87,663/yr | $70,640/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 41% · Health Professions 19% · Communication & Journalism 8% | Social Sciences 26% · Psychology 14% · Visual & Performing Arts 11% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 41% of degrees | Social Sciences — 26% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Health Professions — 19% of degrees | Psychology — 14% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Communication & Journalism — 8% of degrees | Visual & Performing Arts — 11% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 8% of degrees | Area, Ethnic & Gender Studies — 10% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 5% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $118,169/yr | Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities — $39,764/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 12% | 19% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 5,373 | 3,067 |
| Students per professor | 12 : 1 | 8 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,473 | 206 |
| Average professor pay | $13,298/mo | $14,100/mo |
| Full-time professors | 100% | 90% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
| Median family income | $117,152 | $60,146 |
| Setting | Suburb (large) | City (small) |
| Location | Fairfield, CT | Middletown, CT |
| Region | New England | New England |
| Founded | 1942 | 1831 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral/Professional Universities | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 1.9% | 9.9% |
| Men | 42% | 48% |
| Women | 58% | 52% |
| White students | 79% | 54% |
| Black students | 1.3% | 6% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 8.9% | 11% |
| Asian students | 1.8% | 9% |
| Two or more races | 2% | 7.2% |
| Other / not reported | 4.8% | 3.5% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | None |
| First-generation students | 17% | 20% |
| Part-time students | 0.9% | 0.3% |
| Students age 25+ | 1% | 1.6% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $15,558/yr | $34,729/yr |
| Endowment | $411.1M | $1.6B |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 3,959 | 2,989 |
| Required to live on campus | No | Yes — for first-year students |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $10,700/yr | No data reported |
| Meal plan charge | $7,700/yr | No data reported |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic | No data reported |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | Yes — 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 | Yes | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | No |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | No |
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 I without football | NCAA Division III with football |
| Football team | No | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 20 | 26 |
| Student athletes | 505 | 745 |
| Athletic scholarships | $9.9M | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $30.2M | $11.0M |
| Athletics revenue | $30.2M | $15.5M |
| Recruiting spend | $345,393 | $119,005 |
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.