Fairfield University vs. Brown

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

Fairfield University Brown
Location Fairfield, CT Providence, RI
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 6,289 11,516
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #128 #11
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu brown.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University Brown
Tuition (In State) $55,510 $65,656
Tuition (Out of State) $55,510 $65,656
Room & Board $17,400 $16,598
Avg Net Price $47,630 $26,608
Avg Grant Aid $25,877 $58,378
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 51%

Admission

Fairfield University Brown
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,463 51,316
Admitted 6,956 2,686
Acceptance Rate 45% 5.2%
Enrolled % 20.6% 63.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.94
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Extreme
ACT Range 29/32 34/35
SAT Range 1240/1380 1500/1570
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, 2026 Jan 5, 2026

Academics

Fairfield University Brown
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University Brown
Graduation Rate 82% 95%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $87,600
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $15,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $155

Diversity

Fairfield University Brown
% Men 7% 15%
% Women 14% 17%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 76% 43%
% Black 2% 7%
% Hispanic 7% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 6%
% International 2% 12%
% Unknown Race 8% 7%

Students

Fairfield University Brown
% In-State 15% 3%
% Out-of-State 84% 81%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Brown University is larger than than Fairfield University based on total student enrollment (11,516 students vs. 6,289 students)

Fairfield University vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Brown?

  • Brown University is 18.3% more expensive to attend than Fairfield University for in-state tuition ($65,656.00 vs. $55,510.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 18.3% higher at Brown than Fairfield University ($65,656.00 vs. $55,510.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Brown University than Fairfield University ($26,608 vs. $47,630)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 4.8% lower than costs at Fairfield University ($16,598 vs. $17,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairfield University than Brown University (95% vs. 51%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 125.6% larger than aid received Fairfield University ($58,378 vs. $25,877)

Fairfield University vs. Brown Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Fairfield University (3.67)
  • Fairfield University has a higher acceptance rate (45%) than Brown (5.2%)

Fairfield University vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Brown is higher than Fairfield University (95% vs. 82%)
  • Graduates from Brown University earn on average $10,500 more per year than Fairfield University graduates after ten years. ($87,600 vs. $77,100)
  • Brown University students graduate with a $12,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($15,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Brown graduates are paying $124 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($155 vs. $279)
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fairfield University students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 82%)

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