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Fairfield photo montagePhoto: Aab254 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Fairfield

Fairfield is home to two colleges, with about 16,000 students on campus

Sacred Heart University (9,987 students on campus) and Fairfield University (5,903) are inside the town, and the University of Bridgeport (3,171) is 4.3 miles from the center, just over the line in Bridgeport. About 11% of Fairfield’s residents are enrolled in college, above Connecticut (7%).

Fairfield UniversitySacred Heart UniversityUniversity of Bridgeport

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Fairfield. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
19,264 students on campus
Nearest college
1.5 mi
Fairfield University
Residents in college
11%
Above CT (7%)
Nearest community college
51.4 mi
Connecticut State · $5,338 tuition
Nearest public university
16.3 mi
University of Connecticut-Stamford · $18,150 in-state
Median household income
$172K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Fairfield

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Three colleges within 4.3 milesFairfield University admits 33% of applicants; Sacred Heart University admits 65%; University of Bridgeport admits 83%. Together they have 19,061 students on campus.In-state price at University of Connecticut-StamfordLiving in Connecticut, the University of Connecticut-Stamford charges $18,150 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $40,818. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 51.4 miles awayConnecticut State Community College in New Britain: tuition and fees $5,338 a year for Connecticut residents.Students are 11% of residentsAbove Connecticut (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Fairfield

Four private colleges within 4.3 miles. The nearest public four-year college, University of Connecticut-Stamford, is 16.3 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miSacred Heart UniversityFairfield UniversityUniversity of BridgeportFairfield
University or collegeCommunity college
Fairfield UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 5,903 on campus · In Fairfield33%admitted$48knet price84%graduate$89kearningsSacred Heart UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 9,987 on campus · In Fairfield65%admitted$46knet price73%graduate$75kearningsPaier CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 203 on campus · 4.1 mi · BridgeportUniversity of BridgeportUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,171 on campus · 4.3 mi · Bridgeport83%admitted$28knet price41%graduate$50kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where Fairfield’s median household income ($172,432) falls.

University of Connecticut-Stamford16.3 mi · Stamford · sticker $30,122$28,354a year
University of Bridgeport4.3 mi · Bridgeport · sticker $52,957$29,733a year
Sacred Heart UniversityIn Fairfield · sticker $69,289$48,217a year
Fairfield UniversityIn Fairfield · sticker $76,074$50,773a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Fairfield UniversitySacred Heart UniversityUniversity of BridgeportUniversity of Connecticut-Stamford
Sacred Heart University73% graduate$75k earnings$25k typical debt
Fairfield University84% graduate$89k earnings$26k typical debt
University of Bridgeport41% graduate$50k earnings$26k typical debt
University of Connecticut-Stamford57% graduate$74k earnings*$22k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: University of Connecticut-Stamford (5).

Majors

What students study in Fairfield

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Fairfield’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 34%Health professions 24%Psychology 8%Biology 8%Communication 7%Social sciences 2%Everything else 17%

Biggest programs

Finance and Financial Management ServicesFairfield University · 254 graduates a year
$107k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingSacred Heart University · 252 graduates a year
$103k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingFairfield University · 197 graduates a year
$102k4 yrs out
MarketingFairfield University · 157 graduates a year
$87k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsSacred Heart University · 146 graduates a year
$75k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesSacred Heart University · 130 graduates a year
$95k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related ServicesFairfield University · 115 graduates a year
$111k4 yrs out
MarketingSacred Heart University · 104 graduates a year
$74k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Fairfield

Is Fairfield a college town?

No. About 11 of every 100 Fairfield residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Connecticut (7). The largest campus in the town, Sacred Heart University, has 9,987 students on campus.

What colleges are in Fairfield?

Sacred Heart University and Fairfield University are inside the town. the University of Bridgeport is 4.3 miles from the center, in Bridgeport, and Connecticut State Community College is 51.4 miles away in New Britain.

What is the closest community college to Fairfield, and what does it cost?

Connecticut State Community College in New Britain, 51.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,338 a year for Connecticut residents; the federal net price, $11,513, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of Connecticut-Stamford cost if we live in Connecticut?

Tuition and fees are $18,150 a year in-state and $40,818 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,632 (under $30,000 income) to $28,354 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Fairfield. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →