Fairfield University vs. UMass

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

Fairfield University UMass
Location Fairfield, CT Amherst, MA
Setting Large Suburban Town Fringe
Enrollment 6,019 32,229
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #138 #176
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu umass.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University UMass
Tuition (In State) $53,630 $16,186
Tuition (Out of State) $53,630 $37,405
Room & Board $16,750 $14,123
Avg Net Price $46,065 $22,291
Avg Grant Aid $25,279 $12,350
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 85%

Admission

Fairfield University UMass
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,359 45,451
Admitted 6,971 28,871
Acceptance Rate 52.2% 63.5%
Enrolled % 19.1% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.99
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 28/31 29/33
SAT Range 1240/1370 1260/1480
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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Fairfield University UMass
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University UMass
Graduation Rate 82% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $55,200
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $248

Diversity

Fairfield University UMass
% Men 41% 49%
% Women 59% 51%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 76% 67%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 7% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 8% 8%

Students

Fairfield University UMass
% In-State 15% 65%
% Out-of-State 84% 24%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than than Fairfield University based on total student enrollment (32,229 students vs. 6,019 students)

Fairfield University vs. UMass Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or UMass?

  • Fairfield University is 231.3% more expensive to attend than UMass for in-state tuition ($53,630.00 vs. $16,186.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 43.4% higher at Fairfield University than University of Massachusetts Amherst ($53,630.00 vs. $37,405.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Massachusetts Amherst than Fairfield University ($22,291 vs. $46,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 18.6% lower than costs at Fairfield University ($14,123 vs. $16,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairfield University than University of Massachusetts Amherst (94% vs. 85%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fairfield University students is 104.7% larger than aid received University of Massachusetts Amherst ($25,279 vs. $12,350)

Fairfield University vs. UMass Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Fairfield University (3.67)
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Fairfield University (52.2%)

Fairfield University vs. UMass Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Fairfield University is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst (82% vs. 67%)
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $21,900 more per year than UMass graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $55,200)
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($24,000 vs. $27,000)
  • UMass graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($248 vs. $279)
  • More Fairfield University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 76%)

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