Fairfield University vs. City College of New York

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

Fairfield University City College of New York
Location Fairfield, CT New York, NY
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 6,289 15,012
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #128 #276
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu cuny.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University City College of New York
Tuition (In State) $55,510 $6,930
Tuition (Out of State) $55,510 $14,880
Room & Board $17,400 $18,104
Avg Net Price $47,630 $4,599
Avg Grant Aid $25,877 $9,236
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 86%

Admission

Fairfield University City College of New York
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,463 31,988
Admitted 6,956 18,576
Acceptance Rate 45% 58.1%
Enrolled % 20.6% 14.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.2
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/32
SAT Range 1240/1380 1220/1460
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 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

Fairfield University City College of New York
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Psychology (15%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University City College of New York
Graduation Rate 82% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $49,800
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 52%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $11,400
Median Loan Payment $279 $117

Diversity

Fairfield University City College of New York
% Men 7% 7%
% Women 14% 11%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 76% 15%
% Black 2% 16%
% Hispanic 7% 35%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 8% 0%

Students

Fairfield University City College of New York
% In-State 15% 87%
% Out-of-State 84% 0%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • CUNY City College is larger than than Fairfield University based on total student enrollment (15,012 students vs. 6,289 students)

Fairfield University vs. City College of New York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or City College of New York?

  • Fairfield University is 701% more expensive to attend than City College of New York for in-state tuition ($55,510.00 vs. $6,930.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 273.1% higher at Fairfield University than CUNY City College ($55,510.00 vs. $14,880.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at CUNY City College than Fairfield University ($4,599 vs. $47,630)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairfield University are 4% lower than costs at CUNY City College ($17,400 vs. $18,104)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairfield University than CUNY City College (95% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fairfield University students is 180.2% larger than aid received CUNY City College ($25,877 vs. $9,236)

Fairfield University vs. City College of New York Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Fairfield University students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at City College of New York (3.2)
  • City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Fairfield University (45%)

Fairfield University vs. City College of New York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fairfield University or City College of New York? 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 City College of New York and Fairfield University.

  • The graduation rate at Fairfield University is higher than CUNY City College (82% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $27,300 more per year than City College of New York graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $49,800)
  • CUNY City College students graduate with a $15,600 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($11,400 vs. $27,000)
  • City College of New York graduates are paying $162 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($117 vs. $279)
  • More Fairfield University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 52%)

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