Fairfield University vs. BC

Should I go to Fairfield University or Boston College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Fairfield University or BC 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. Boston College comparison
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Fairfield University Boston College
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Overview

Fairfield University BC
Location Fairfield, CT Chestnut Hill, MA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 6,019 15,287
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #138 #45
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu bc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University BC
Tuition (In State) $53,630 $62,950
Tuition (Out of State) $53,630 $62,950
Room & Board $16,750 $16,120
Avg Net Price $46,065 $30,559
Avg Grant Aid $25,279 $49,992
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 40%

Admission

Fairfield University BC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,359 40,494
Admitted 6,971 6,748
Acceptance Rate 52.2% 16.7%
Enrolled % 19.1% 34.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.86
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 28/31 33/35
SAT Range 1240/1370 1435/1540
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 1, 2025

Academics

Fairfield University BC
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • English and Literature (7%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University BC
Graduation Rate 82% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $90,900
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 90%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $19,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $196

Diversity

Fairfield University BC
% Men 41% 45%
% Women 59% 55%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 76% 62%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 7% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 8% 6%

Students

Fairfield University BC
% In-State 15% 21%
% Out-of-State 84% 71%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Boston College is larger than than Fairfield University based on total student enrollment (15,287 students vs. 6,019 students)

Fairfield University vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or BC?

  • Boston College is 17.4% more expensive to attend than Fairfield University for in-state tuition ($62,950.00 vs. $53,630.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.4% higher at BC than Fairfield University ($62,950.00 vs. $53,630.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boston College than Fairfield University ($30,559 vs. $46,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston College are 3.9% lower than costs at Fairfield University ($16,120 vs. $16,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairfield University than Boston College (94% vs. 40%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 97.8% larger than aid received Fairfield University ($49,992 vs. $25,279)

Fairfield University vs. BC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Fairfield University (3.67)
  • Fairfield University has a higher acceptance rate (52.2%) than BC (16.7%)

Fairfield University vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fairfield University or BC? 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 BC and Fairfield University.

  • The graduation rate at BC is higher than Fairfield University (91% vs. 82%)
  • Graduates from Boston College earn on average $13,800 more per year than Fairfield University graduates after ten years. ($90,900 vs. $77,100)
  • Boston College students graduate with a $8,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($19,000 vs. $27,000)
  • BC graduates are paying $83 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($196 vs. $279)
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fairfield University students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 82%)

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