Fairfield University vs. William & Mary

Should I go to Fairfield University or College of William and Mary? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Fairfield University or William & Mary 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Fairfield University vs. College of William and Mary comparison
Fairfield University College of William and Mary College 3 College 4
Fairfield University College of William and Mary
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Fairfield University William & Mary
Location Fairfield, CT Williamsburg, VA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,019 9,654
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #138 #61
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu wm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University William & Mary
Tuition (In State) $53,630 $17,434
Tuition (Out of State) $53,630 $40,089
Room & Board $16,750 $13,828
Avg Net Price $46,065 $25,688
Avg Grant Aid $25,279 $15,134
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 66%

Admission

Fairfield University William & Mary
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,359 18,087
Admitted 6,971 6,059
Acceptance Rate 52.2% 33.5%
Enrolled % 19.1% 27.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.85
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 28/31 32/34
SAT Range 1240/1370 1375/1520
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 2, 2025

Academics

Fairfield University William & Mary
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Social Sciences (24%)
  • Business (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • History (7%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University William & Mary
Graduation Rate 82% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $68,700
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 85%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $201

Diversity

Fairfield University William & Mary
% Men 41% 42%
% Women 59% 58%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 76% 59%
% Black 2% 7%
% Hispanic 7% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 4%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 8% 6%

Students

Fairfield University William & Mary
% In-State 15% 58%
% Out-of-State 84% 36%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • College of William and Mary is larger than than Fairfield University based on total student enrollment (9,654 students vs. 6,019 students)

Fairfield University vs. William & Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or William & Mary?

  • Fairfield University is 207.6% more expensive to attend than William & Mary for in-state tuition ($53,630.00 vs. $17,434.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 33.8% higher at Fairfield University than College of William and Mary ($53,630.00 vs. $40,089.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of William and Mary than Fairfield University ($25,688 vs. $46,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of William and Mary are 21.1% lower than costs at Fairfield University ($13,828 vs. $16,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairfield University than College of William and Mary (94% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fairfield University students is 67% larger than aid received College of William and Mary ($25,279 vs. $15,134)

Fairfield University vs. William & Mary Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman William & Mary students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at Fairfield University (3.67)
  • Fairfield University has a higher acceptance rate (52.2%) than William & Mary (33.5%)

Fairfield University vs. William & Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fairfield University or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary and Fairfield University.

  • The graduation rate at William & Mary is higher than Fairfield University (91% vs. 82%)
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $8,400 more per year than William & Mary graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $68,700)
  • College of William and Mary students graduate with a $7,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($19,500 vs. $27,000)
  • William & Mary graduates are paying $78 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($201 vs. $279)
  • More William & Mary graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fairfield University students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 82%)

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