Fairfield University vs. Canisius

Should I go to Fairfield University or Canisius College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Fairfield University or Canisius 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. Canisius College comparison
Fairfield University Canisius College College 3 College 4
Fairfield University Canisius College
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Overview

Fairfield University Canisius
Location Fairfield, CT Buffalo, NY
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 6,289 2,545
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #128 #389
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu canisius.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University Canisius
Tuition (In State) $55,510 $31,100
Tuition (Out of State) $55,510 $31,100
Room & Board $17,400 $13,160
Avg Net Price $47,630 $19,321
Avg Grant Aid $25,877 $22,779
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 100%

Admission

Fairfield University Canisius
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,463 4,147
Admitted 6,956 3,391
Acceptance Rate 45% 81.8%
Enrolled % 20.6% 12.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.7
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 29/32 22/28
SAT Range 1240/1380 1050/1320
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2026

Academics

Fairfield University Canisius
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Education (9%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University Canisius
Graduation Rate 82% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $49,900
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,750
Median Loan Payment $279 $255

Diversity

Fairfield University Canisius
% Men 7% 12%
% Women 14% 17%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 73%
% Black 2% 8%
% Hispanic 7% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 1%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 8% 4%

Students

Fairfield University Canisius
% In-State 15% 75%
% Out-of-State 84% 18%

Campus

Fairfield University Canisius
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 Canisius based on total student enrollment (6,289 students vs. 2,545 students)

Fairfield University vs. Canisius Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Canisius?

  • Fairfield University is 78.5% more expensive to attend than Canisius for in-state tuition ($55,510.00 vs. $31,100.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 78.5% higher at Fairfield University than Canisius College ($55,510.00 vs. $31,100.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Canisius College than Fairfield University ($19,321 vs. $47,630)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Canisius College are 32.2% lower than costs at Fairfield University ($13,160 vs. $17,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Canisius College than Fairfield University (100% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fairfield University students is 13.6% larger than aid received Canisius College ($25,877 vs. $22,779)

Fairfield University vs. Canisius Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Canisius students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Fairfield University (3.67)
  • Canisius has a higher acceptance rate (81.8%) than Fairfield University (45%)

Fairfield University vs. Canisius Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Fairfield University is higher than Canisius College (82% vs. 67%)
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $27,200 more per year than Canisius graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $49,900)
  • Canisius College students graduate with a $2,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($24,750 vs. $27,000)
  • Canisius graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($255 vs. $279)
  • More Fairfield University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Canisius students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 71%)

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