USF vs. Fairfield University

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

USF Fairfield University
Location San Francisco, CA Fairfield, CT
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 9,212 6,289
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #116 #128
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website usfca.edu fairfield.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

USF Fairfield University
Tuition (In State) $57,670 $55,510
Tuition (Out of State) $57,670 $55,510
Room & Board $17,300 $17,400
Avg Net Price $44,104 $47,630
Avg Grant Aid $32,492 $25,877
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 95%

Admission

USF Fairfield University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,709 15,463
Admitted 13,052 6,956
Acceptance Rate 50.8% 45%
Enrolled % 8.6% 20.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.57 3.67
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 26/31 29/32
SAT Range 1210/1390 1240/1380
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 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

USF Fairfield University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)

Outcomes

USF Fairfield University
Graduation Rate 70% 82%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $70,400 $77,100
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $279

Diversity

USF Fairfield University
% Men 13% 7%
% Women 24% 14%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 27% 76%
% Black 3% 2%
% Hispanic 19% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 1%
% International 19% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 8%

Students

USF Fairfield University
% In-State 58% 15%
% Out-of-State 32% 84%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of San Francisco is larger than than Fairfield University based on total student enrollment (9,212 students vs. 6,289 students)

USF vs. Fairfield University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USF or Fairfield University?

  • University of San Francisco is 3.9% more expensive to attend than Fairfield University for in-state tuition ($57,670.00 vs. $55,510.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.9% higher at USF than Fairfield University ($57,670.00 vs. $55,510.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of San Francisco than Fairfield University ($44,104 vs. $47,630)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of San Francisco are 0.6% lower than costs at Fairfield University ($17,300 vs. $17,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of San Francisco than Fairfield University (97% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Francisco students is 25.6% larger than aid received Fairfield University ($32,492 vs. $25,877)

USF vs. Fairfield University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Fairfield University students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at USF (3.57)
  • USF has a higher acceptance rate (50.8%) than Fairfield University (45%)

USF vs. Fairfield University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Fairfield University is higher than University of San Francisco (82% vs. 70%)
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $6,700 more per year than USF graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $70,400)
  • University of San Francisco students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • USF graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More Fairfield University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USF students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 73%)

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