- Acceptance rate: 33% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 630–700 reading and writing, 630–690 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 29–32 composite
- Average net price: $47,630 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Fairfield University reported: an acceptance rate of 33% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 29–32.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Fairfield University reviews each application.
Fairfield University GPA requirements
Fairfield University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Fairfield University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Fairfield University acceptance rate
Fairfield University admitted 6,162 of 18,509 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 33%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Fairfield University is a private nonprofit 4-year university in Fairfield, Connecticut, with 5,391 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Fairfield University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 630 | 660 | 700 |
| SAT Math | 630 | 660 | 690 |
| ACT Composite | 29 | 30 | 32 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1335 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Fairfield University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
AP credit
Fairfield University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $47,630 a year at Fairfield University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
How selective is Fairfield University?
Selective: fewer than half of applicants got in. Fairfield University admitted 33% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
How important is GPA for getting into Fairfield University?
A lot: Fairfield University requires high school GPA, high school record, college preparatory program, recommendations and essay or personal statement. It considers high school class rank, test scores, work experience and legacy status if you send them. It doesn't consider other tests and demonstration of competencies. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
How many applicants get into Fairfield University?
Fairfield University's acceptance rate was 33% for fall 2024: it admitted 6,162 of 18,509 first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
What GPA do you need to get into Fairfield University?
Fairfield University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Is Fairfield University test optional?
Yes. Fairfield University considers SAT or ACT scores if you send them, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 14% sent SAT scores and 5% sent ACT scores.
What SAT and ACT scores do Fairfield University students have?
The middle 50% of Fairfield University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 630–700 in reading and writing and 630–690 in math; ACT composite 29–32, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
Can a 3.0 GPA get you into Fairfield University?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Fairfield University admitted 33% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
What is the average net price at Fairfield University?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $47,630 a year at Fairfield University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does it matter at Fairfield University if a parent went there?
Yes. Fairfield University considers whether a parent or other relative attended, though it isn't required, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Does Fairfield University give credit for AP exams?
Yes. Fairfield University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Before you apply, check Fairfield University's official website: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Fairfield UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
Similar colleges in Connecticut
With a similar acceptance rate and size.
- Trinity CollegeModerate · 29% admitted
- Connecticut CollegeModerate · 37% admitted
- Wesleyan UniversityHard · 16% admitted
- University of New HavenFairly easy · 60% admitted
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- Yale UniversityVery hard · 3.9% admitted
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