Fairfield University vs. Columbia

Should I go to Fairfield University or Columbia University in the City of New York? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Fairfield University or Columbia 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. Columbia University in the City of New York comparison
Fairfield University Columbia University in the City of New York College 3 College 4
Fairfield University Columbia University in the City of New York
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Overview

Fairfield University Columbia
Location Fairfield, CT New York, NY
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 6,019 34,782
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #138 #22
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu columbia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University Columbia
Tuition (In State) $53,630 $62,570
Tuition (Out of State) $53,630 $62,570
Room & Board $16,750 $16,286
Avg Net Price $46,065 $22,058
Avg Grant Aid $25,279 $61,061
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 52%

Admission

Fairfield University Columbia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,359 60,879
Admitted 6,971 2,404
Acceptance Rate 52.2% 3.9%
Enrolled % 19.1% 64.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.91
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Extreme
ACT Range 28/31 34/35
SAT Range 1240/1370 1490/1580
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 Columbia
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University Columbia
Graduation Rate 82% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $107,600
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $222

Diversity

Fairfield University Columbia
% Men 41% 46%
% Women 59% 54%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 76% 38%
% Black 2% 8%
% Hispanic 7% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 5%
% International 2% 15%
% Unknown Race 8% 3%

Students

Fairfield University Columbia
% In-State 15% 19%
% Out-of-State 84% 64%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than Fairfield University based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 6,019 students)

Fairfield University vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Columbia?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 16.7% more expensive to attend than Fairfield University for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $53,630.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.7% higher at Columbia than Fairfield University ($62,570.00 vs. $53,630.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than Fairfield University ($22,058 vs. $46,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 2.8% lower than costs at Fairfield University ($16,286 vs. $16,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairfield University than Columbia University in the City of New York (94% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 141.5% larger than aid received Fairfield University ($61,061 vs. $25,279)

Fairfield University vs. Columbia Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Fairfield University (3.67)
  • Fairfield University has a higher acceptance rate (52.2%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Fairfield University vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than Fairfield University (93% vs. 82%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $30,500 more per year than Fairfield University graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $77,100)
  • Columbia University in the City of New York students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Columbia graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($222 vs. $279)
  • More Fairfield University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 76%)

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