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SHU Hamilton College Colgate Middlebury Providence Marist College Tufts Vassar UConn BC Loyola University Maryland Bentley| Fairfield University | Colby College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Fairfield University | Colby College | ||
| Location | Fairfield, CT | Waterville, ME | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 6,289 | 2,284 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #128 | #37 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | fairfield.edu | colby.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Fairfield University | Colby College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,510 | $63,790 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,510 | $63,790 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,400 | $17,120 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $47,630 | $15,163 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $25,877 | $66,387 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 95% | 42% |
Admission |
Fairfield University | Colby College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 15,463 | 17,786 | ||
| Admitted | 6,956 | 1,215 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 45% | 6.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.6% | 49.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.67 | 3.86 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Extreme | ||
| ACT Range | 29/32 | 32/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1240/1380 | 1440/1550 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jan 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Fairfield University | Colby College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Fairfield University | Colby College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 82% | 91% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $77,100 | $73,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 82% | 88% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $19,345 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $200 |
Diversity |
Fairfield University | Colby College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 7% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 0% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 62% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 5% | ||
| % International | 2% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 8% | 7% |
Students |
Fairfield University | Colby College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 15% | 7% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 84% | 79% | ||
Campus |
Fairfield University | Colby College | ||
| 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 Colby College based on total student enrollment (6,289 students vs. 2,284 students)
Fairfield University vs. Colby College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Colby College?
- Colby College is 14.9% more expensive to attend than Fairfield University for in-state tuition ($63,790.00 vs. $55,510.00)
- Out of state tuition is 14.9% higher at Colby College than Fairfield University ($63,790.00 vs. $55,510.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than Fairfield University ($15,163 vs. $47,630)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby College are 1.6% lower than costs at Fairfield University ($17,120 vs. $17,400)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Fairfield University than Colby College (95% vs. 42%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 156.5% larger than aid received Fairfield University ($66,387 vs. $25,877)
Fairfield University vs. Colby College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Fairfield University or Colby College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Colby College or Fairfield University .
- Accepted freshman Colby College 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 (45%) than Colby College (6.8%)
Fairfield University vs. Colby College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Fairfield University or Colby College? 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 Colby College and Fairfield University.
- The graduation rate at Colby College is higher than Fairfield University (91% vs. 82%)
- Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $3,700 more per year than Colby College graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $73,400)
- Colby College students graduate with a $7,655 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($19,345 vs. $27,000)
- Colby College graduates are paying $79 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($200 vs. $279)
- More Colby College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fairfield University students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 82%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/