Fairfield University vs. Bennington

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

Fairfield University Bennington
Location Fairfield, CT Bennington, VT
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 6,019 880
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #138
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu bennington.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University Bennington
Tuition (In State) $53,630 $60,648
Tuition (Out of State) $53,630 $60,648
Room & Board $16,750 $17,720
Avg Net Price $46,065 $32,497
Avg Grant Aid $25,279 $49,183
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 98%

Admission

Fairfield University Bennington
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,359 2,801
Admitted 6,971 1,269
Acceptance Rate 52.2% 45.3%
Enrolled % 19.1% 17.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.51
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 28/31 29/33
SAT Range 1240/1370 1260/1370
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, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

Fairfield University Bennington
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (39%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University Bennington
Graduation Rate 82% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $31,700
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $268

Diversity

Fairfield University Bennington
% Men 41% 31%
% Women 59% 69%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 76% 65%
% Black 2% 2%
% Hispanic 7% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 5%
% International 2% 13%
% Unknown Race 8% 5%

Students

Fairfield University Bennington
% In-State 15% 2%
% Out-of-State 84% 87%

Campus

Fairfield University Bennington
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 Bennington based on total student enrollment (6,019 students vs. 880 students)

Fairfield University vs. Bennington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Bennington?

  • Bennington College is 13.1% more expensive to attend than Fairfield University for in-state tuition ($60,648.00 vs. $53,630.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.1% higher at Bennington than Fairfield University ($60,648.00 vs. $53,630.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bennington College than Fairfield University ($32,497 vs. $46,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairfield University are 5.8% lower than costs at Bennington College ($16,750 vs. $17,720)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bennington College than Fairfield University (98% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bennington College students is 94.6% larger than aid received Fairfield University ($49,183 vs. $25,279)

Fairfield University vs. Bennington Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Fairfield University students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Bennington (3.51)
  • Fairfield University has a higher acceptance rate (52.2%) than Bennington (45.3%)

Fairfield University vs. Bennington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Fairfield University is higher than Bennington College (82% vs. 67%)
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $45,400 more per year than Bennington graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $31,700)
  • Bennington College students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Bennington graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More Fairfield University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bennington students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 77%)

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