Fairfield University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Fairfield University is a private Catholic university with an acceptance rate of 57%. Located an hour from New York City in Fairfield, Connecticut, Fairfield's curriculum emphasizes experiential learning across disciplinary boundaries. The school has strong international programs and has produced a number of Fulbright Scholars. Fairfield's strengths in the liberal arts and sciences earned the school a chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, and the university's Dolan School of Business is also well regarded. In athletics, the Fairfield Stags compete in the NCAA Division I Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

Considering applying to Fairfield University? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Fairfield University had an acceptance rate of 57%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 57 students were admitted, making Fairfield's admissions process competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

Fairfield University has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants to Fairfield may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 58% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those students who submitted scores during the 2018-19 admissions cycle, most of Fairfield's admitted students fall within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Fairfield scored between 610 and 670, while 25% scored below 610 and 25% scored above 670. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 600 and 680, while 25% scored below 600 and 25% scored above 680. While the SAT is not required, this data tells us that a composite SAT score of 1350 or higher is competitive for Fairfield University.

Requirements

Fairfield University does not require SAT scores for admission. Note that Fairfield recommends that students who elect not to submit standardized test scores participate in an interview. For students who choose to submit scores, note that Fairfield participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. Fairfield does not require the essay section of the SAT or SAT Subject tests.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Fairfield University has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 16% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that of those who submitted scores during the 2018-19 admissions cycle, most of Fairfield's admitted students fall within the top 18% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Fairfield received a composite ACT score between 26 and 30, while 25% scored above 30 and 25% scored below 26.

Requirements

Fairfield does not require ACT scores for admission. Note that Fairfield recommends that students who elect not to submit standardized test scores participate in an interview. For students who choose to submit scores, Fairfield participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all ACT test dates. Fairfield does not require the ACT writing section.

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA for Fairfield University's incoming freshmen class was 3.64, and over 42% of incoming students had average GPAs of 3.75 and above. These results suggest that most successful applicants to Fairfield University have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Fairfield University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Fairfield University, which accepts over half of applicants, has a competitive admissions pool. However, Fairfield also has a holistic admissions process and is test-optional, and admissions decisions are based on much more than numbers. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. The college is looking for students who will contribute to the campus community in meaningful ways, not just students who show promise in the classroom. While not required, Fairfield strongly recommends interviews for all interested applicants, and particularly for students who choose not to submit standardized test scores. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and scores are outside of Fairfield's average range.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that most students who were admitted to Fairfield University had averages of "B+" or higher, and many successful applicants had "A" averages. Note that grades are far more important than test scores because the university has test-optional admissions. If your scores aren't on target for Fairfield, you can choose not to submit them.

If You Like Fairfield University, You May Also Like These Schools

• Boston College
• New York University
• Syracuse University
• University of Vermont
• Yale University
• University of Connecticut

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Fairfield University Undergraduate Admissions Office.