Fairfield University vs. Penn State Abington

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

Fairfield University Penn State Abington
Location Fairfield, CT Abington, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,019 3,090
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #138 #694
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University Penn State Abington
Tuition (In State) $53,630 $14,684
Tuition (Out of State) $53,630 $24,586
Room & Board $16,750 $10,694
Avg Net Price $46,065 $20,460
Avg Grant Aid $25,279 $9,589
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 79%

Admission

Fairfield University Penn State Abington
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,359 6,463
Admitted 6,971 6,037
Acceptance Rate 52.2% 93.4%
Enrolled % 19.1% 14.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 28/31 23/31
SAT Range 1240/1370 1070/1310
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 Abington
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 (35%)
  • Psychology (21%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University Penn State Abington
Graduation Rate 82% 44%
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 Abington
% Men 41% 59%
% Women 59% 41%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 76% 50%
% Black 2% 13%
% Hispanic 7% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 8% 3%

Students

Fairfield University Penn State Abington
% In-State 15% 68%
% Out-of-State 84% 21%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Fairfield University is larger than than Penn State Abington based on total student enrollment (6,019 students vs. 3,090 students)

Fairfield University vs. Penn State Abington Cost Comparison

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

  • Fairfield University is 265.2% more expensive to attend than Penn State Abington for in-state tuition ($53,630.00 vs. $14,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 118.1% higher at Fairfield University than Penn State Abington ($53,630.00 vs. $24,586.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Abington than Fairfield University ($20,460 vs. $46,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Abington are 56.6% lower than costs at Fairfield University ($10,694 vs. $16,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairfield University than Penn State Abington (94% vs. 79%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fairfield University students is 163.6% larger than aid received Penn State Abington ($25,279 vs. $9,589)

Fairfield University vs. Penn State Abington Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Fairfield University students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Penn State Abington (3.42)
  • Penn State Abington has a higher acceptance rate (93.4%) than Fairfield University (52.2%)

Fairfield University vs. Penn State Abington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Fairfield University is higher than Penn State Abington (82% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $21,800 more per year than Penn State Abington graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $55,300)
  • Penn State Abington students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
  • Penn State Abington 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 Abington 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/