Fairfield University vs. Messiah College

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

Fairfield University Messiah College
Location Fairfield, CT Grantham, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,019 3,231
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #138 #358
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Interdenominational - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu messiah.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University Messiah College
Tuition (In State) $53,630 $38,550
Tuition (Out of State) $53,630 $38,550
Room & Board $16,750 $11,560
Avg Net Price $46,065 $24,120
Avg Grant Aid $25,279 $27,519
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 100%

Admission

Fairfield University Messiah College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,359 2,438
Admitted 6,971 1,936
Acceptance Rate 52.2% 79.4%
Enrolled % 19.1% 30.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.8
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 28/31 25/30
SAT Range 1240/1370 1090/1340
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

Academics

Fairfield University Messiah College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University Messiah College
Graduation Rate 82% 74%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $48,600
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 85%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,989
Median Loan Payment $279 $268

Diversity

Fairfield University Messiah College
% Men 41% 37%
% Women 59% 63%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 83%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 7% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 8% 1%

Students

Fairfield University Messiah College
% In-State 15% 63%
% Out-of-State 84% 35%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Fairfield University is larger than than Messiah College based on total student enrollment (6,019 students vs. 3,231 students)

Fairfield University vs. Messiah College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Messiah College?

  • Fairfield University is 39.1% more expensive to attend than Messiah College for in-state tuition ($53,630.00 vs. $38,550.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 39.1% higher at Fairfield University than Messiah College ($53,630.00 vs. $38,550.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Messiah College than Fairfield University ($24,120 vs. $46,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messiah College are 44.9% lower than costs at Fairfield University ($11,560 vs. $16,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Messiah College than Fairfield University (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Messiah College students is 8.9% larger than aid received Fairfield University ($27,519 vs. $25,279)

Fairfield University vs. Messiah College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Messiah College students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Fairfield University (3.67)
  • Messiah College has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than Fairfield University (52.2%)

Fairfield University vs. Messiah College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fairfield University or Messiah College? 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 Messiah College and Fairfield University.

  • The graduation rate at Fairfield University is higher than Messiah College (82% vs. 74%)
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $28,500 more per year than Messiah College graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $48,600)
  • Messiah College students graduate with a $1,011 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($25,989 vs. $27,000)
  • Messiah College graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More Messiah College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fairfield University students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 82%)

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