Fairfield University vs. Maryland

Deciding between Fairfield University and University of Maryland College Park? 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
University of Maryland College Park

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Fairfield University Fairfield, CT
  • Maryland College Park, MD
  • Setting
  • Fairfield University Large Suburban
  • Maryland Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Fairfield University 6,864
  • Maryland 41,725
  • Type
  • Fairfield University Private 4 Year
  • Maryland Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Fairfield University #129
  • Maryland #85
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Fairfield University Roman Catholic
  • Maryland -
  • Status
  • Fairfield University Non-profit
  • Maryland Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Fairfield University
  • Maryland

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Fairfield University $58,350
  • Maryland $11,809
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Fairfield University $58,350
  • Maryland $41,186
  • Room & Board
  • Fairfield University $19,838
  • Maryland $15,958
  • Average Net Price
  • Fairfield University $49,958
  • Maryland $16,581
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Fairfield University $26,274
  • Maryland $12,867
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Fairfield University 96%
  • Maryland 55%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Fairfield University 18,509
  • Maryland 60,056
  • Admitted
  • Fairfield University 6,162
  • Maryland 26,902
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Fairfield University 33.3%
  • Maryland 44.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Fairfield University 23.7%
  • Maryland 21.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Fairfield University 1330
  • Maryland 1470
  • Typical ACT score
  • Fairfield University 30
  • Maryland 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Fairfield University 3.67
  • Maryland 3.84
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Fairfield University A-
  • Maryland A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Fairfield University Very High
  • Maryland Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Fairfield University High
  • Maryland Low
  • ACT Range
  • Fairfield University 29/32
  • Maryland 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • Fairfield University 1260/1390
  • Maryland 1400/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Fairfield University Test optional
  • Maryland Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Fairfield University Jan 15, 2027
  • Maryland

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Fairfield University 12:1
  • Maryland 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Fairfield University
    • Business (34%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Maryland
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Fairfield University 82%
  • Maryland 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Fairfield University $77,100
  • Maryland $68,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Fairfield University 82%
  • Maryland 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Fairfield University $27,000
  • Maryland $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Fairfield University $279
  • Maryland $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Fairfield University 40%
  • Maryland 51%
  • % Women
  • Fairfield University 60%
  • Maryland 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Fairfield University Very Low
  • Maryland High
  • HBCU
  • Fairfield University No
  • Maryland No
  • % White
  • Fairfield University 76%
  • Maryland 52%
  • % Asian
  • Fairfield University 2%
  • Maryland 16%
  • % Black
  • Fairfield University 2%
  • Maryland 13%
  • % Hispanic
  • Fairfield University 7%
  • Maryland 9%
  • % Native American
  • Fairfield University 0%
  • Maryland 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Fairfield University 0%
  • Maryland 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Fairfield University 1%
  • Maryland 4%
  • % International
  • Fairfield University 2%
  • Maryland 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Fairfield University 8%
  • Maryland 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Fairfield University 13%
  • Maryland 70%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Fairfield University 86%
  • Maryland 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT with University of Maryland College Park in College Park, MD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Maryland College Park is larger than Fairfield University based on total student enrollment (41,725 students vs. 6,864 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Fairfield University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); University of Maryland College Park is in College Park, MD (Large Suburban setting).
  • Fairfield University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Maryland College Park is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Fairfield University 12:1; University of Maryland College Park 17:1.

Fairfield University vs. Maryland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Maryland? 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 University of Maryland College Park than Fairfield University ($16,581 vs. $49,958).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland College Park are 19.6% lower than at Fairfield University ($15,958 vs. $19,838).
  • Fairfield University is 394.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Maryland (about $46,541 more per year; $58,350.00 vs. $11,809.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 41.7% higher at Fairfield University than at University of Maryland College Park (about $17,164 more per year; $58,350.00 vs. $41,186.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fairfield University than at University of Maryland College Park (96% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fairfield University students is 104.2% larger than aid received by University of Maryland College Park students ($26,274 vs. $12,867).

Fairfield University vs. Maryland Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fairfield University or Maryland? 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 Maryland and Fairfield University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Maryland College Park (1470) is 140 points higher than at Fairfield University (1330).
  • Incoming Maryland students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 30 at Fairfield University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairfield University 1260/1390; University of Maryland College Park 1400/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairfield University 29/32; University of Maryland College Park 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Fairfield University - Test optional; Maryland - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Fairfield University Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Maryland students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Fairfield University (3.67).
  • Maryland has a higher acceptance rate (44.8%) than Fairfield University (33.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.7% at Fairfield University vs. 21.6% at Maryland.

Fairfield University vs. Maryland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fairfield University and Maryland? 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).

  • The graduation rate at Fairfield University is the same as at University of Maryland College Park (82% vs. 82%).
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn a median of about $8,800 more per year than Maryland graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,100 vs. $68,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland College Park graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than Fairfield University graduates ($19,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Maryland graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fairfield University graduates ($201 vs. $279).
  • More Fairfield University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Maryland students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 80%)

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.