Fairfield University vs. The New School

Deciding between Fairfield University and The New School? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Fairfield University
The New School

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Fairfield University Fairfield, CT
  • The New School New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Fairfield University Large Suburban
  • The New School Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Fairfield University 6,864
  • The New School 9,068
  • Type
  • Fairfield University Private 4 Year
  • The New School Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Fairfield University #129
  • The New School #164
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Fairfield University Roman Catholic
  • The New School -
  • Status
  • Fairfield University Non-profit
  • The New School Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Fairfield University
  • The New School
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Fairfield University $58,350
  • The New School $58,694
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Fairfield University $58,350
  • The New School $58,694
  • Room & Board
  • Fairfield University $19,838
  • The New School $25,337
  • Average Net Price
  • Fairfield University $49,958
  • The New School $67,224
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Fairfield University $26,274
  • The New School $22,174
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Fairfield University 96%
  • The New School 94%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Fairfield University 18,509
  • The New School 9,828
  • Admitted
  • Fairfield University 6,162
  • The New School 6,238
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Fairfield University 33.3%
  • The New School 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Fairfield University 23.7%
  • The New School 21.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Fairfield University 1330
  • The New School 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • Fairfield University 30
  • The New School 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Fairfield University 3.67
  • The New School 3.59
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Fairfield University A-
  • The New School A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Fairfield University Very High
  • The New School Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Fairfield University High
  • The New School Low
  • ACT Range
  • Fairfield University 29/32
  • The New School 26/30
  • SAT Range
  • Fairfield University 1260/1390
  • The New School 1140/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Fairfield University Test optional
  • The New School Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Fairfield University Jan 15, 2027
  • The New School
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Fairfield University 12:1
  • The New School 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Fairfield University
    • Business (34%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • The New School
    • Visual and Performing Arts (62%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (4%)
    • Social Sciences (3%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Fairfield University 82%
  • The New School 61%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Fairfield University $77,100
  • The New School $52,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Fairfield University 82%
  • The New School 65%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Fairfield University $27,000
  • The New School $23,872
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Fairfield University $279
  • The New School $246
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Fairfield University 40%
  • The New School 25%
  • % Women
  • Fairfield University 60%
  • The New School 75%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Fairfield University Very Low
  • The New School Very High
  • HBCU
  • Fairfield University No
  • The New School No
  • % White
  • Fairfield University 76%
  • The New School 33%
  • % Asian
  • Fairfield University 2%
  • The New School 9%
  • % Black
  • Fairfield University 2%
  • The New School 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Fairfield University 7%
  • The New School 12%
  • % Native American
  • Fairfield University 0%
  • The New School 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Fairfield University 0%
  • The New School 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Fairfield University 1%
  • The New School 4%
  • % International
  • Fairfield University 2%
  • The New School 32%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Fairfield University 8%
  • The New School 4%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Fairfield University 13%
  • The New School 13%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Fairfield University 86%
  • The New School 48%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Fairfield University Yes
  • The New School Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Fairfield University No
  • The New School No
  • Meal Plan
  • Fairfield University Yes
  • The New School Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Fairfield University Yes
  • The New School Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Fairfield University Yes
  • The New School No

Comparable Facts

Compare Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT with The New School in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The New School is larger than Fairfield University based on total student enrollment (9,068 students vs. 6,864 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Fairfield University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); The New School is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Fairfield University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The New School is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Fairfield University 12:1; The New School 9:1.

Fairfield University vs. The New School Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or The New School? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fairfield University than The New School ($49,958 vs. $67,224).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairfield University are 21.7% lower than at The New School ($19,838 vs. $25,337).
  • The New School is 0.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fairfield University (about $344 more per year; $58,694.00 vs. $58,350.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.6% higher at The New School than at Fairfield University (about $344 more per year; $58,694.00 vs. $58,350.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fairfield University than at The New School (96% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fairfield University students is 18.5% larger than aid received by The New School students ($26,274 vs. $22,174).

Fairfield University vs. The New School Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fairfield University or The New School? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between The New School and Fairfield University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Fairfield University (1330) is 80 points higher than at The New School (1250).
  • Incoming Fairfield University students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at The New School).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairfield University 1260/1390; The New School 1140/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairfield University 29/32; The New School 26/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Fairfield University - Test optional; The New School - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Fairfield University Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Fairfield University students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at The New School (3.59).
  • The New School has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Fairfield University (33.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.7% at Fairfield University vs. 21.3% at The New School.

Fairfield University vs. The New School Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fairfield University and The New School? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Fairfield University's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than The New School's (61%).
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn a median of about $24,400 more per year than The New School graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,100 vs. $52,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The New School graduates have a $3,128 lower median loan debt than Fairfield University graduates ($23,872 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, The New School graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fairfield University graduates ($246 vs. $279).
  • More Fairfield University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The New School students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 65%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.