Fairfield University vs. Wellesley

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

Fairfield University Wellesley
Location Fairfield, CT Wellesley, MA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,019 2,447
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #138 #17
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu wellesley.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University Wellesley
Tuition (In State) $53,630 $61,584
Tuition (Out of State) $53,630 $61,584
Room & Board $16,750 $19,080
Avg Net Price $46,065 $21,362
Avg Grant Aid $25,279 $61,328
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 59%

Admission

Fairfield University Wellesley
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,359 8,491
Admitted 6,971 1,152
Acceptance Rate 52.2% 13.6%
Enrolled % 19.1% 50.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.86
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 28/31 33/35
SAT Range 1240/1370 1430/1550
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 8, 2025

Academics

Fairfield University Wellesley
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University Wellesley
Graduation Rate 82% 92%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $68,100
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $8,900
Median Loan Payment $279 $92

Diversity

Fairfield University Wellesley
% Men 41% 1%
% Women 59% 99%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 76% 40%
% Black 2% 6%
% Hispanic 7% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 6%
% International 2% 12%
% Unknown Race 8% 4%

Students

Fairfield University Wellesley
% In-State 15% 11%
% Out-of-State 84% 73%

Campus

Fairfield University Wellesley
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

  • Fairfield University is larger than than Wellesley based on total student enrollment (6,019 students vs. 2,447 students)

Fairfield University vs. Wellesley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Wellesley?

  • Wellesley College is 14.8% more expensive to attend than Fairfield University for in-state tuition ($61,584.00 vs. $53,630.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14.8% higher at Wellesley than Fairfield University ($61,584.00 vs. $53,630.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Wellesley College than Fairfield University ($21,362 vs. $46,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairfield University are 13.9% lower than costs at Wellesley College ($16,750 vs. $19,080)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairfield University than Wellesley College (94% vs. 59%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 142.6% larger than aid received Fairfield University ($61,328 vs. $25,279)

Fairfield University vs. Wellesley Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Wellesley students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Fairfield University (3.67)
  • Fairfield University has a higher acceptance rate (52.2%) than Wellesley (13.6%)

Fairfield University vs. Wellesley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Wellesley is higher than Fairfield University (92% vs. 82%)
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $9,000 more per year than Wellesley graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $68,100)
  • Wellesley College students graduate with a $18,100 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($8,900 vs. $27,000)
  • Wellesley graduates are paying $187 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($92 vs. $279)
  • More Wellesley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fairfield University students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 82%)

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