Fairfield University vs. Penn State

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

 Fairfield University Penn State
Location Fairfield, CT University Park, PA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 6,019 50,028
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #138 #167
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Fairfield University Penn State
Tuition (In State) $53,630 $18,368
Tuition (Out of State) $53,630 $35,946
Room & Board $16,750 $12,744
Avg Net Price $46,065 $26,747
Avg Grant Aid $25,279 $10,066
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 44%

Admission

 Fairfield University Penn State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,359 85,784
Admitted 6,971 47,360
Acceptance Rate 52.2% 55.2%
Enrolled % 19.1% 19.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 28/31 26/31
SAT Range 1240/1370 1210/1390
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 Penn State
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

 Fairfield University Penn State
Graduation Rate 82% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $279 $277

Diversity

 Fairfield University Penn State
% Men 41% 53%
% Women 59% 47%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 76% 69%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 7% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 2% 11%
% Unknown Race 8% 2%

Students

 Fairfield University Penn State
% In-State 15% 51%
% Out-of-State 84% 40%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Penn State Main Campus is larger than than Fairfield University based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 6,019 students)

Fairfield University vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Penn State?

  • Fairfield University is 192% more expensive to attend than Penn State for in-state tuition ($53,630.00 vs. $18,368.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 49.2% higher at Fairfield University than Penn State Main Campus ($53,630.00 vs. $35,946.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Main Campus than Fairfield University ($26,747 vs. $46,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 31.4% lower than costs at Fairfield University ($12,744 vs. $16,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairfield University than Penn State Main Campus (94% vs. 44%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fairfield University students is 151.1% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($25,279 vs. $10,066)

Fairfield University vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (55.2%) than Fairfield University (52.2%)

Fairfield University vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fairfield University or Penn State? 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 Penn State and Fairfield University.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than Fairfield University (87% vs. 82%)
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $21,800 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $55,300)
  • Penn State Main Campus students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
  • Penn State graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More Fairfield University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 69%)

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