How Much Does Fairfield University Cost?

Located in idyllic Fairfield, Connecticut, Fairfield University is a private Catholic institution offering Jesuit education immersed in liberal arts and pre-professional programs. But this quality education comes at a price - so how much exactly does Fairfield University cost to attend?

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of Fairfield's current tuition rates, room and board fees, financial aid options, and overall costs including books, supplies, and living expenses. Read on to learn what to expect to budget for this prestigious New England university.

How Much Does Fairfield University Cost?

The estimated total annual cost to attend Fairfield University ranges from $78,000 to $83,000 (≈2.7 years working every day at a $15/hour wage) including tuition, fees, room, board, supplies, and personal expenses. However, with over 85% of students receiving financial aid and scholarships, the actual out-of-pocket cost is significantly lower for many families after need-based and merit aid is applied.

Fairfield University's published annual tuition and fee rates per year are:

• Tuition - $55,740 (≈1.8 years of your professional life at $15/hour) per year for full-time undergraduates
• General Fee - $1,000 (≈1.7 weeks working every single day at $15/hour) per year covering facilities, activities, and administration
• Room - $8,000 to $9,500 (≈3.6 months dedicated to affording this at $15/hour) depending on residence hall
• Board - $6,636 to $7,772 (≈2.9 months of non-stop employment at $15/hour) based on meal plan selected
• Books & Supplies - $1,200 to $1,500 (≈2.5 weeks of non-stop employment at $15/hour) estimate per year
• Additional Fees - Some courses and programs levy lab fees, studio fees, equipment use fees, or material costs ranging from $50 to $750 (≈1.3 weeks of non-stop employment at $15/hour) per class. Budget accordingly.

In total, published rates for tuition, mandatory fees, room and board range from $71,376 (≈2.3 years devoted to affording this at $15/hour) up to $77,012 (≈2.5 years at your job making $15/hour non-stop) per year. However, many students receive scholarships and financial aid to significantly reduce these sticker prices.

According to the official website, for the 2025–2026 academic year, the cost to attend Fairfield University as a full-time undergraduate in the US is $59,460 (≈1.9 years at your job making $15/hour non-stop) per year for tuition. On top of tuition, students pay a $950 (≈1.6 weeks of your working life at $15/hour) student activity fee and a one-time $400 (≈3.3 days of your career at $15/hour) orientation fee for freshmen. Housing and meal plans vary by residence type, with standard on-campus room and board averaging between $19,810 and $25,940 (≈9.8 months dedicated to affording this at $15/hour) per year depending on the housing and meal plan selected. For example, a double room in a residence hall costs $11,630 (≈4.4 months trading your time for $15/hour) and the unlimited meal plan is $8,110 (≈3.1 months of your working life at $15/hour) per year.

Other mandatory and optional fees include laboratory fees (typically $125 (≈1 day working without days off at $15/hour)–$150 (≈1.3 days of continuous work at a $15/hour job) per course), music lesson fees, and various course-specific charges. The total estimated cost of attendance (COA), which includes tuition, fees, room, board, books, personal expenses, and transportation, can exceed $80,000 (≈2.6 years of career dedication at a $15/hour wage) per year for residential students [Fairfield University Catalog] [Niche].

Financial aid is widely available, with 98% of students receiving some form of aid and the average net price after grants and scholarships reported as $47,630 (≈1.5 years of dedicated labor at $15/hour) per year. Net price varies by family income, with lower-income families often paying significantly less than the full sticker price [Niche] [College Board].

Per-Semester and Per-Credit Cost

While Fairfield prices tuition annually, billing occurs each semester. Here is how costs break down per semester:

• Tuition - $28,370 (≈10.7 months of your career at a $15/hour job) per semester
• Fees - $500 (≈4.2 days of your career at $15/hour) per semester
• Room - $4,000 to $4,750 (≈1.8 months locked to your job at $15/hour) per semester
• Board - $3,318 to $3,886 (≈1.5 months of your working life at $15/hour) per semester

So full-time students pay between $36,188 to $37,506 (≈1.2 years of uninterrupted work at $15/hour) each semester, or around $72,000 to $75,000 (≈2.4 years spent earning $15/hour instead of living) per year.

Part-time undergraduates enrolled in less than 12 credits per semester pay per credit hour as follows:

• Tuition - $1,655 (≈2.8 weeks working every single day at $15/hour) per undergraduate credit
• Fees - $85 (≈5.7 hours of your life traded for $15/hour) per credit for less than full-time

So, a 3-credit course would cost $5,070 (≈1.9 months dedicated to affording this at $15/hour) per semester. Per-credit costs help budgeting for working students taking reduced course loads.

On-Campus Housing and Meal Plans

In addition to tuition, full-time students living on campus face housing and dining costs. Here are the current rates:

• Residence hall room - Between $8,000 to $9,500 (≈3.6 months dedicated to affording this at $15/hour) per year depending on specific hall and room type.
• Board meal plans - Ranging from $6,636 (≈2.5 months of salary time at $15/hour) for the minimum plan up to $7,772 for unlimited meals per year.
• So, in total, on-campus room and board costs range from $14,636 to $17,272 per academic year on top of tuition.

Off-campus students can expect to spend $11,000 to $12,000 per year for housing and food costs if sharing an apartment. But savings are minimal in the expensive Fairfield County rental market.

Books, Supplies, and Miscellaneous Expenses

In budgeting for Fairfield, students should prepare for these common annual academic costs beyond just tuition and fees:

• Textbooks - Fairfield estimates $1,000 per year, but costs can reach $1,500 for some majors like nursing or science. Renting print/digital textbooks and buying used copies help reduce this major expense.
• School supplies - Stock up on notebooks, pens, backpacks, calculators, and other supplies you may need for $200-$300 per year. Reuse what you can year-to-year.
• Technology - While not mandatory, having a personal laptop helps complete coursework anywhere on campus. Budget $500-$1,000 if purchasing new. Tablets and printers are optional extras.
• Course materials - Some courses levy additional fees for supplies or equipment use that could range from $50 for art studio materials up to $500+ for high-level lab courses. Get cost details upfront from the Registrar.

Tallying $2,000 or more per year for these supplies, textbooks, tech, and fees ensures you can cover any academic costs that arise.

You might also like our articles about the cost of education at Hofstra University, New York University, or the University of Michigan.

On-Campus vs. Off-Campus Living Expenses

Housing and food costs make up a major portion of annual undergraduate expenses. Here's what to expect:

On-Campus

• Shared dorm rooms with community bathrooms cost $8,000-$9,500 per year depending on specific residence hall and room type.
• Campus apartments with kitchens for upperclassmen run $9,000-$10,000 annually.
• Meal plan prices range from $6,636 for light eaters to $7,772 per year for unlimited meals.

So most students budget $14,500 - $17,000 to live and dine on campus each year. Rising juniors and seniors can save around $2,000/year by moving to slightly cheaper on-campus apartments.

Off-Campus

• Sharing an off-campus apartment with roommates typically costs $6,000 - $7,000 per student annually for rent and utilities in the Fairfield area.
• Adding $4,000 - $5,000 for food and groceries without a meal plan.

Off-campus students should thus estimate around $10,000 - $12,000 for annual shared living costs around Fairfield. But savings vs. dorms are usually minimal after factoring in commuting or parking costs.

Personal Expenses and Incidentals

Beyond basic tuition and housing, students face a variety of personal and discretionary expenses that add up. Budget for:

• Transportation - Gas, vehicle maintenance, or train/bus tickets to travel between breaks. Allow $500-$1,000 if bringing a car.
• Clothing/Laundry - New campus attire, dry cleaning, laundry supplies. Estimate $750-$1,000.
• Toiletries/Household - Soap, cleaning products, toilet paper, and other personal essentials will likely cost $250-$500.
• Entertainment - Concerts, movies, restaurants, hobbies, and other activities generally add $1,000-$2,000 per year. Budget higher if frequently traveling into New York City.
• Insurance - Health insurance premiums if not covered by parents. Allow $2,000-$3,000 for a student health plan.

Tallying up these items, most undergrads spend $5,000 - $7,000 annually on personal expenses, though frugal students can get by on less.

Total Estimated Cost

Adding together these individual components - tuition, housing, meal plan, books, personal spending, etc. - provides an expected total budget for attending Fairfield University each year:

• Tuition/Fees: $56,740
• Room/Board: $14,500-$17,000
• Books/Supplies: $2,000
• Personal Expenses: $5,000-$7,000

Total: $78,240 - $82,740

So, while actual costs vary based on lifestyle choices, most full-time undergraduates pay between $78,000 to $83,000 annually to attend Fairfield University, including all expenses.

Over 4 years, the estimated total cost of a Fairfield degree approaches $320,000 for recent high school graduates.

Fairfield vs Alternate Schools

Weighing total cost against aid opportunities is key in determining Fairfield's relative affordability compared to other private universities regionally and nationwide:

• Fairfield's comprehensive cost aligns with similar mid-size private colleges in New England like Providence, Quinnipiac, Roger Williams, and Merrimack.
• Larger research universities like Boston College and Northeastern land $5k-$10k per year higher than Fairfield for total expenses.
• Highly selective Ivy League schools like Yale, Brown, and Columbia are significantly pricier, with total costs exceeding $80,000 per year.
• Nationally, Fairfield is positioned above the average annual total cost of $52,000 among private non-profit 4-year institutions.

While certainly not cheap, Fairfield remains competitively priced for its peer set while offering generous need and merit-based aid opportunities to make the school accessible to admitted students.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

To help reduce the total cost for students with financial need, Fairfield offers these main types of financial aid d scholarships:

• Need-based grants - Over $62 million awarded annually to undergraduate students demonstrating financial need. Award amounts range widely based on calculated family need via the FAFSA/CSS Profile.
• Merit scholarships - Academic scholarships available based on GPA/class rank and SAT/ACT scores. Ranging from $5,000 Dean's Scholarships up to $25,000 Fairfield Merit Awards. an
• Athletic scholarships - Varsity athletic program participants may receive scholarships covering portions of tuition and housing costs. Amounts vary by sport/program.
• Work-study program - Campus jobs pay $14 per hour to help offset costs for eligible student workers. Awards range from $2,000 to $3,000.

In total, over 85% of Fairfield undergraduates receive some form of financial aid. Consulting with the financial aid office helps incoming students fully understand eligibility and customize an aid package.

Maximize Fairfield's Affordability

Here is expert guidance on steps current and prospective students can take to minimize Fairfield's out-of-pocket costs:

• Submit the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and any scholarship applications as early as allowable to receive maximum aid consideration. Meet all deadlines.
• Research and apply for relevant external scholarships from organizations aligned with your major, background, and interests.
• Compare on-campus housing options carefully - apartments can save $2,000+ over dorms for upperclassmen. Splitting off-campus housing further reduces costs.
• Buy used textbooks, rent digital versions, share books with classmates, and resell at the end of semesters to save.
• Graduating in less than 4 years via summer classes, AP credits, or heavy course loads reduces the tuition sum.
• Work study programs or part-time employment provide income to offset personal expenses.

With proactive planning and responsible budgeting, Fairfield's total cost can be tamed through financial aid and sensible choices.

Final Words

While Fairfield's published annual tuition, fees, room, and board approach $80,000, the university is committed to making itself affordable and accessible through substantial need-based and merit-based financial aid. With over 85% of students receiving scholarships or grants and thoughtful budgeting around books, supplies, and personal expenses, the true out-of-pocket cost to attend this prestigious Connecticut Catholic college is far lower than the sticker price for many families. By taking advantage of available aid and careful spending, a Fairfield education can be very reasonably priced compared to similar quality small private universities.

Answers to Common Questions

Is Fairfield considered an Ivy League-level university?

No, Fairfield University is not in the Ivy League, which refers specifically to 8 elite Northeast universities like Harvard, Yale and Princeton. However, Fairfield is considered one of the "Little Ivies" - a group of top small liberal arts colleges across the US known for excellent academics and selectivity despite not being Ivies.

How difficult is it to get into Fairfield University?

With an early 30% acceptance rate, Fairfield is moderately selective, accepting students with strong academics and test scores. The middle 50% of enrolled freshmen score 1200-1340 on the SAT and 27-31 on the ACT. GPA averages 3.6 to 4.1. While not easy, Fairfield offers a quality education with better admissions chances compared to Ivy League institutions.

Is Fairfield University a dry campus?

No, Fairfield allows students age 21+ to possess and consume alcohol responsibly if residing in on-campus apartments or townhouses. All residence halls are dry per Connecticut state law. Off-campus students at surrounding private residences may also consume alcohol if 21+. Fairfield partners with students to promote smart drinking choices through education and support resources.