Fairfield University vs. Elms College

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

Fairfield University Elms College
Location Fairfield, CT Chicopee, MA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,019 1,275
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #138 #401
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu elms.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University Elms College
Tuition (In State) $53,630 $38,735
Tuition (Out of State) $53,630 $38,735
Room & Board $16,750 $14,830
Avg Net Price $46,065 $23,498
Avg Grant Aid $25,279 $27,109
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 98%

Admission

Fairfield University Elms College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,359 1,177
Admitted 6,971 1,070
Acceptance Rate 52.2% 90.9%
Enrolled % 19.1% 13.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 28/31
SAT Range 1240/1370 1070/1300
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

Academics

Fairfield University Elms 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%)
  • Health Professions (49%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • History (5%)
  • General Studies (4%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University Elms College
Graduation Rate 82% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $46,300
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $258

Diversity

Fairfield University Elms College
% Men 41% 25%
% Women 59% 75%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 76% 56%
% Black 2% 7%
% Hispanic 7% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 0%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 8% 24%

Students

Fairfield University Elms College
% In-State 15% 72%
% Out-of-State 84% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Fairfield University is larger than than Elms College based on total student enrollment (6,019 students vs. 1,275 students)

Fairfield University vs. Elms College Cost Comparison

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

  • Fairfield University is 38.5% more expensive to attend than Elms College for in-state tuition ($53,630.00 vs. $38,735.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 38.5% higher at Fairfield University than College of Our Lady of the Elms ($53,630.00 vs. $38,735.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of Our Lady of the Elms than Fairfield University ($23,498 vs. $46,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Our Lady of the Elms are 12.9% lower than costs at Fairfield University ($14,830 vs. $16,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at College of Our Lady of the Elms than Fairfield University (98% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of Our Lady of the Elms students is 7.2% larger than aid received Fairfield University ($27,109 vs. $25,279)

Fairfield University vs. Elms College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Fairfield University students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Elms College (3.42)
  • Elms College has a higher acceptance rate (90.9%) than Fairfield University (52.2%)

Fairfield University vs. Elms College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fairfield University or Elms 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 Elms College and Fairfield University.

  • The graduation rate at Fairfield University is higher than College of Our Lady of the Elms (82% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $30,800 more per year than Elms College graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $46,300)
  • College of Our Lady of the Elms students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Elms College graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More Fairfield University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elms College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 61%)

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