Fairfield University vs. Colby College

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

Fairfield University Colby College
Location Fairfield, CT Waterville, ME
Setting Large Suburban Remote Town
Enrollment 6,019 2,299
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #138 #44
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu colby.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University Colby College
Tuition (In State) $53,630 $60,840
Tuition (Out of State) $53,630 $60,840
Room & Board $16,750 $16,330
Avg Net Price $46,065 $16,951
Avg Grant Aid $25,279 $61,714
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 41%

Admission

Fairfield University Colby College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,359 16,890
Admitted 6,971 1,286
Acceptance Rate 52.2% 7.6%
Enrolled % 19.1% 52.3%
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 28/31 32/34
SAT Range 1240/1370 1430/1540
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 Colby College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)

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 41% 48%
% Women 59% 52%
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 (6,019 students vs. 2,299 students)

Fairfield University vs. Colby College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Colby College?

  • Colby College is 13.4% more expensive to attend than Fairfield University for in-state tuition ($60,840.00 vs. $53,630.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.4% higher at Colby College than Fairfield University ($60,840.00 vs. $53,630.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than Fairfield University ($16,951 vs. $46,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby College are 2.6% lower than costs at Fairfield University ($16,330 vs. $16,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairfield University than Colby College (94% vs. 41%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 144.1% larger than aid received Fairfield University ($61,714 vs. $25,279)

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 (52.2%) than Colby College (7.6%)

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/