Fairfield University vs. ONU

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

Fairfield University ONU
Location Fairfield, CT Ada, OH
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 6,289 3,042
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #128 #231
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu onu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University ONU
Tuition (In State) $55,510 $36,500
Tuition (Out of State) $55,510 $36,500
Room & Board $17,400 $13,200
Avg Net Price $47,630 $26,396
Avg Grant Aid $25,877 $26,120
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 96%

Admission

Fairfield University ONU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,463 4,537
Admitted 6,956 3,328
Acceptance Rate 45% 73.4%
Enrolled % 20.6% 17.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.78
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/32 25/29
SAT Range 1240/1380 1173/1376
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 Aug 15, 2026

Academics

Fairfield University ONU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Engineering (16%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University ONU
Graduation Rate 82% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $71,200
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $279

Diversity

Fairfield University ONU
% Men 7% 6%
% Women 14% 9%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 84%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 7% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 4%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 8% 3%

Students

Fairfield University ONU
% In-State 15% 83%
% Out-of-State 84% 16%

Campus

Fairfield University ONU
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 ONU based on total student enrollment (6,289 students vs. 3,042 students)

Fairfield University vs. ONU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or ONU?

  • Fairfield University is 52.1% more expensive to attend than ONU for in-state tuition ($55,510.00 vs. $36,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 52.1% higher at Fairfield University than Ohio Northern University ($55,510.00 vs. $36,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ohio Northern University than Fairfield University ($26,396 vs. $47,630)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio Northern University are 31.8% lower than costs at Fairfield University ($13,200 vs. $17,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ohio Northern University than Fairfield University (96% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Northern University students is 0.9% larger than aid received Fairfield University ($26,120 vs. $25,877)

Fairfield University vs. ONU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman ONU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at Fairfield University (3.67)
  • ONU has a higher acceptance rate (73.4%) than Fairfield University (45%)

Fairfield University vs. ONU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fairfield University or ONU? 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 ONU and Fairfield University.

  • The graduation rate at Fairfield University is higher than Ohio Northern University (82% vs. 65%)
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $5,900 more per year than ONU graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $71,200)
  • Ohio Northern University and Fairfield University graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Ohio Northern University 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 ONU students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 82%)

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