Fairfield University Seen as "Transformative" Institution, Analysis Shows

When Money magazine ranked the 727 “Best Colleges For Your Money,” 2018 edition, Fairfield University ranked number 160.  But when the focus narrowed to the nation’s “most transformative” schools, Fairfield rose into the top 10, landing at number seven. Fairfield’s ranking as among the most transformative institutions, which is “when a college helps students do far better than would be expected from their academic and economic backgrounds,” recognizes the institution’s commitment to holistic formation and places it as the highest ranking Jesuit university in that category, according to school officials.

In the “most transformative” category, the list is led by Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) in Boston, Babson College in Wellesley, MA, Bentley University in Waltham, MA, San Jose State University, Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles, and Manhattan College. 

Money magazine indicates that Fairfield “stands out for its comparatively high graduation rate. The school admits students of all faiths, but the curriculum does require some religious studies for all of the roughly 4,000 undergrads.”

“Of the school's 44 majors, the most popular courses of study include accounting, business, marketing, and the social sciences. The university also places an emphasis on community service and social justice.”

According to the magazine, full price tuition is $65,900; the estimated price with the average grant is $41,400. More than 8 in 10 students with need receive grants.  Early career earnings are estimated at $57,100, and average student debt at graduation is $27,000.

Money’s annual “Best Colleges for Your Money” ranking places Fairfield among the Top 100 private universities in the country.

In the magazine’s overall rankings, Yale University was #15, University of Connecticut ranked #50, Wesleyan University was #111, Connecticut College placed at #245 and Quinnipiac University was #341 on the list of Best Colleges for Your Money.