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SHU Providence Marist College UConn Loyola University Maryland Butler Bentley Villanova Holy Cross Creighton University Fordham Elon| Fairfield University | Drake University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Fairfield University | Drake | ||
| Location | Fairfield, CT | Des Moines, IA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,289 | 4,504 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #128 | #135 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | fairfield.edu | drake.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Fairfield University | Drake | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,510 | $49,466 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,510 | $49,466 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,400 | $11,858 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $47,630 | $30,886 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $25,877 | $31,783 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 95% | 100% |
Admission |
Fairfield University | Drake | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 15,463 | 7,741 | ||
| Admitted | 6,956 | 4,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 45% | 64.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.6% | 12.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.67 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 29/32 | 24/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1240/1380 | 1190/1390 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
Fairfield University | Drake | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Fairfield University | Drake | ||
| Graduation Rate | 82% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $77,100 | $68,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 82% | 84% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $26,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $268 |
Diversity |
Fairfield University | Drake | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 7% | 14% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 26% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 2% | ||
| % International | 2% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 8% | 0% |
Students |
Fairfield University | Drake | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 15% | 41% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 84% | 56% | ||
Campus |
Fairfield University | Drake | ||
| 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 Drake based on total student enrollment (6,289 students vs. 4,504 students)
Fairfield University vs. Drake Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Drake?
- Fairfield University is 12.2% more expensive to attend than Drake for in-state tuition ($55,510.00 vs. $49,466.00)
- Out of state tuition is 12.2% higher at Fairfield University than Drake University ($55,510.00 vs. $49,466.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Drake University than Fairfield University ($30,886 vs. $47,630)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 46.7% lower than costs at Fairfield University ($11,858 vs. $17,400)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Drake University than Fairfield University (100% vs. 95%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Drake University students is 22.8% larger than aid received Fairfield University ($31,783 vs. $25,877)
Fairfield University vs. Drake Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Fairfield University or Drake? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Drake or Fairfield University .
- Accepted freshman Drake students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Fairfield University (3.67)
- Drake has a higher acceptance rate (64.1%) than Fairfield University (45%)
Fairfield University vs. Drake Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Fairfield University or Drake? 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 Drake and Fairfield University.
- The graduation rate at Fairfield University is higher than Drake University (82% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $8,600 more per year than Drake graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $68,500)
- Drake University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
- Drake graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
- More Drake graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fairfield University students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 82%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/