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SHU Providence Marist College UConn Endicott College Loyola University Maryland Bentley Villanova Holy Cross Fordham Elon Stonehill College| Fairfield University | Merrimack College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Fairfield University | Merrimack | ||
| Location | Fairfield, CT | North Andover, MA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 6,289 | 5,688 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #128 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | fairfield.edu | merrimack.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Fairfield University | Merrimack | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,510 | $47,636 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,510 | $47,636 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,400 | $19,995 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $47,630 | $38,849 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $25,877 | $29,235 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 95% | 100% |
Admission |
Fairfield University | Merrimack | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 15,463 | 13,693 | ||
| Admitted | 6,956 | 10,079 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 45% | 73.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.6% | 10.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.67 | 3.3 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 29/32 | |||
| SAT Range | 1240/1380 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 | Sep 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Fairfield University | Merrimack | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Fairfield University | Merrimack | ||
| Graduation Rate | 82% | 70% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $77,100 | $58,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 82% | 78% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $279 |
Diversity |
Fairfield University | Merrimack | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 7% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 73% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 1% | ||
| % International | 2% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 8% | 11% |
Students |
Fairfield University | Merrimack | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 15% | 66% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 84% | 32% | ||
Campus |
Fairfield University | Merrimack | ||
| 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 Merrimack based on total student enrollment (6,289 students vs. 5,688 students)
Fairfield University vs. Merrimack Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Merrimack?
- Fairfield University is 16.5% more expensive to attend than Merrimack for in-state tuition ($55,510.00 vs. $47,636.00)
- Out of state tuition is 16.5% higher at Fairfield University than Merrimack College ($55,510.00 vs. $47,636.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Merrimack College than Fairfield University ($38,849 vs. $47,630)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairfield University are 14.9% lower than costs at Merrimack College ($17,400 vs. $19,995)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Merrimack College than Fairfield University (100% vs. 95%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 13% larger than aid received Fairfield University ($29,235 vs. $25,877)
Fairfield University vs. Merrimack Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Fairfield University or Merrimack? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Merrimack or Fairfield University .
- Accepted freshman Fairfield University students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Merrimack (3.3)
- Merrimack has a higher acceptance rate (73.6%) than Fairfield University (45%)
Fairfield University vs. Merrimack Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Fairfield University or Merrimack? 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 Merrimack and Fairfield University.
- The graduation rate at Fairfield University is higher than Merrimack College (82% vs. 70%)
- Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $19,100 more per year than Merrimack graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $58,000)
- Merrimack College and Fairfield University graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
- Merrimack College and Fairfield University graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($279 vs. $279)
- More Fairfield University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merrimack students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 78%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/