Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Stanford Yale Johns Hopkins SHU Princeton MIT Duke Columbia Brown Penn UChicago Providence| Fairfield University | Harvard University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Fairfield University | Harvard | ||
| Location | Fairfield, CT | Cambridge, MA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,289 | 30,386 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #128 | #4 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | fairfield.edu | harvard.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Fairfield University | Harvard | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,510 | $54,269 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,510 | $54,269 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,400 | $20,374 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $47,630 | $17,900 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $25,877 | $64,942 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 95% | 57% |
Admission |
Fairfield University | Harvard | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 15,463 | 56,937 | ||
| Admitted | 6,956 | 1,965 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 45% | 3.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.6% | 83.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.67 | 4.0 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A/A+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Extreme | ||
| ACT Range | 29/32 | 34/36 | ||
| SAT Range | 1240/1380 | 1500/1580 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jan 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Fairfield University | Harvard | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 7:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Fairfield University | Harvard | ||
| Graduation Rate | 82% | 97% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $77,100 | $136,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 82% | 70% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $6,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $67 |
Diversity |
Fairfield University | Harvard | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 7% | 32% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 38% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 44% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 6% | ||
| % International | 2% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 8% | 3% |
Students |
Fairfield University | Harvard | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 15% | 15% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 84% | 70% | ||
Campus |
Fairfield University | Harvard | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Harvard University is larger than than Fairfield University based on total student enrollment (30,386 students vs. 6,289 students)
Fairfield University vs. Harvard Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Harvard?
- Fairfield University is 2.3% more expensive to attend than Harvard for in-state tuition ($55,510.00 vs. $54,269.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2.3% higher at Fairfield University than Harvard University ($55,510.00 vs. $54,269.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than Fairfield University ($17,900 vs. $47,630)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairfield University are 17.1% lower than costs at Harvard University ($17,400 vs. $20,374)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Fairfield University than Harvard University (95% vs. 57%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 151% larger than aid received Fairfield University ($64,942 vs. $25,877)
Fairfield University vs. Harvard Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Fairfield University or Harvard? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Harvard or Fairfield University .
- Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Fairfield University (3.67)
- Fairfield University has a higher acceptance rate (45%) than Harvard (3.5%)
Fairfield University vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Fairfield University or Harvard? 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 Harvard and Fairfield University.
- The graduation rate at Harvard is higher than Fairfield University (97% vs. 82%)
- Graduates from Harvard University earn on average $59,600 more per year than Fairfield University graduates after ten years. ($136,700 vs. $77,100)
- Harvard University students graduate with a $20,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($6,500 vs. $27,000)
- Harvard graduates are paying $212 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($67 vs. $279)
- More Fairfield University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 70%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/