Fairfield University vs. Amherst

Should I go to Fairfield University or Amherst College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Fairfield University or Amherst is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Fairfield University vs. Amherst College comparison
Fairfield University Amherst College College 3 College 4
Fairfield University Amherst College
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Overview

Fairfield University Amherst
Location Fairfield, CT Amherst, MA
Setting Large Suburban Town Fringe
Enrollment 6,019 1,898
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #138 #16
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu amherst.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University Amherst
Tuition (In State) $53,630 $63,500
Tuition (Out of State) $53,630 $63,500
Room & Board $16,750 $16,750
Avg Net Price $46,065 $21,367
Avg Grant Aid $25,279 $58,693
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 58%

Admission

Fairfield University Amherst
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,359 14,864
Admitted 6,971 1,079
Acceptance Rate 52.2% 7.3%
Enrolled % 19.1% 43.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.91
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Extreme
ACT Range 28/31 32/35
SAT Range 1240/1370 1420/1550
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Jan 2, 2025

Academics

Fairfield University Amherst
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • English and Literature (12%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University Amherst
Graduation Rate 82% 96%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $82,000
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $12,975
Median Loan Payment $279 $134

Diversity

Fairfield University Amherst
% Men 41% 48%
% Women 59% 52%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 76% 42%
% Black 2% 12%
% Hispanic 7% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 5%
% International 2% 10%
% Unknown Race 8% 4%

Students

Fairfield University Amherst
% In-State 15% 13%
% Out-of-State 84% 74%

Campus

Fairfield University Amherst
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Fairfield University is larger than than Amherst based on total student enrollment (6,019 students vs. 1,898 students)

Fairfield University vs. Amherst Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Amherst?

  • Amherst College is 18.4% more expensive to attend than Fairfield University for in-state tuition ($63,500.00 vs. $53,630.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 18.4% higher at Amherst than Fairfield University ($63,500.00 vs. $53,630.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Amherst College than Fairfield University ($21,367 vs. $46,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Amherst College are 0% lower than costs at Fairfield University ($16,750 vs. $16,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairfield University than Amherst College (94% vs. 58%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 132.2% larger than aid received Fairfield University ($58,693 vs. $25,279)

Fairfield University vs. Amherst Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fairfield University or Amherst? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Amherst or Fairfield University .

  • Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Fairfield University (3.67)
  • Fairfield University has a higher acceptance rate (52.2%) than Amherst (7.3%)

Fairfield University vs. Amherst Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fairfield University or Amherst? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Amherst and Fairfield University.

  • The graduation rate at Amherst is higher than Fairfield University (96% vs. 82%)
  • Graduates from Amherst College earn on average $4,900 more per year than Fairfield University graduates after ten years. ($82,000 vs. $77,100)
  • Amherst College students graduate with a $14,025 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($12,975 vs. $27,000)
  • Amherst graduates are paying $145 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($134 vs. $279)
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fairfield University students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 82%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/