Fairfield University vs. Harvard

Should I go to Fairfield University or Harvard University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Fairfield University or Harvard 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. Harvard University comparison
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Fairfield University Harvard University
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Overview

Fairfield University Harvard
Location Fairfield, CT Cambridge, MA
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 6,019 30,631
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #138 #4
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu harvard.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University Harvard
Tuition (In State) $53,630 $52,659
Tuition (Out of State) $53,630 $52,659
Room & Board $16,750 $19,502
Avg Net Price $46,065 $19,491
Avg Grant Aid $25,279 $61,801
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 56%

Admission

Fairfield University Harvard
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,359 61,221
Admitted 6,971 1,984
Acceptance Rate 52.2% 3.2%
Enrolled % 19.1% 83%
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 28/31 34/36
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 Harvard
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Social Sciences (32%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • History (9%)
  • Mathematics (6%)

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 41% 46%
% Women 59% 54%
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% 69%

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 (30,631 students vs. 6,019 students)

Fairfield University vs. Harvard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Harvard?

  • Fairfield University is 1.8% more expensive to attend than Harvard for in-state tuition ($53,630.00 vs. $52,659.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.8% higher at Fairfield University than Harvard University ($53,630.00 vs. $52,659.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than Fairfield University ($19,491 vs. $46,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairfield University are 16.4% lower than costs at Harvard University ($16,750 vs. $19,502)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairfield University than Harvard University (94% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 144.5% larger than aid received Fairfield University ($61,801 vs. $25,279)

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 (52.2%) than Harvard (3.2%)

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/