Fairfield University vs. TCNJ

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

Fairfield University TCNJ
Location Fairfield, CT Ewing, NJ
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,289 7,652
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #128 #164
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu tcnj.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University TCNJ
Tuition (In State) $55,510 $14,706
Tuition (Out of State) $55,510 $20,589
Room & Board $17,400 $15,569
Avg Net Price $47,630 $22,379
Avg Grant Aid $25,877 $13,824
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 62%

Admission

Fairfield University TCNJ
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 15,463 11,668
Admitted 6,956 7,251
Acceptance Rate 45% 62.1%
Enrolled % 20.6% 21.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.29
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/32 25/31
SAT Range 1240/1380 1140/1340
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, 2026 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

Fairfield University TCNJ
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 (22%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University TCNJ
Graduation Rate 82% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $62,100
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 85%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $279 $240

Diversity

Fairfield University TCNJ
% Men 7% 2%
% Women 14% 6%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 76% 66%
% Black 2% 6%
% Hispanic 7% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 0%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 8% 5%

Students

Fairfield University TCNJ
% In-State 15% 95%
% Out-of-State 84% 5%

Campus

Fairfield University TCNJ
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

  • The College of New Jersey is larger than than Fairfield University based on total student enrollment (7,652 students vs. 6,289 students)

Fairfield University vs. TCNJ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or TCNJ?

  • Fairfield University is 277.5% more expensive to attend than TCNJ for in-state tuition ($55,510.00 vs. $14,706.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 169.6% higher at Fairfield University than The College of New Jersey ($55,510.00 vs. $20,589.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The College of New Jersey than Fairfield University ($22,379 vs. $47,630)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of New Jersey are 11.8% lower than costs at Fairfield University ($15,569 vs. $17,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairfield University than The College of New Jersey (95% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fairfield University students is 87.2% larger than aid received The College of New Jersey ($25,877 vs. $13,824)

Fairfield University vs. TCNJ Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Fairfield University students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at TCNJ (3.29)
  • TCNJ has a higher acceptance rate (62.1%) than Fairfield University (45%)

Fairfield University vs. TCNJ Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at TCNJ is higher than Fairfield University (87% vs. 82%)
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $15,000 more per year than TCNJ graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $62,100)
  • The College of New Jersey students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($23,250 vs. $27,000)
  • TCNJ graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($240 vs. $279)
  • More TCNJ 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/