Fairfield University vs. Penn State

Deciding between Fairfield University and Penn State Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Fairfield University
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Fairfield University Fairfield, CT
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Fairfield University Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Fairfield University 6,864
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Fairfield University Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Fairfield University #129
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Fairfield University Roman Catholic
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Fairfield University Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Fairfield University
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Fairfield University $58,350
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Fairfield University $58,350
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Fairfield University $19,838
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Fairfield University $49,958
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Fairfield University $26,274
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Fairfield University 96%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Fairfield University 18,509
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Fairfield University 6,162
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Fairfield University 33.3%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Fairfield University 23.7%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Fairfield University 1330
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Fairfield University 30
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Fairfield University 3.67
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Fairfield University A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Fairfield University Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Fairfield University High
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Fairfield University 29/32
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Fairfield University 1260/1390
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Fairfield University Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Fairfield University Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Fairfield University 12:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Fairfield University
    • Business (34%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Fairfield University 82%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Fairfield University $77,100
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Fairfield University 82%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Fairfield University $27,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Fairfield University $279
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Fairfield University 40%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Fairfield University 60%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Fairfield University Very Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Fairfield University No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Fairfield University 76%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Fairfield University 2%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Fairfield University 2%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Fairfield University 7%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Fairfield University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Fairfield University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Fairfield University 1%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Fairfield University 2%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Fairfield University 8%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Fairfield University 13%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Fairfield University 86%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Fairfield University Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Fairfield University No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Fairfield University Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Fairfield University Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Fairfield University Yes
  • Penn State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Fairfield University based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 6,864 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Fairfield University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Fairfield University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Fairfield University 12:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Fairfield University vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Penn State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Main Campus than Fairfield University ($27,889 vs. $49,958).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 27% lower than at Fairfield University ($14,474 vs. $19,838).
  • Fairfield University is 182.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $37,706 more per year; $58,350.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39.6% higher at Fairfield University than at Penn State Main Campus (about $16,560 more per year; $58,350.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fairfield University than at Penn State Main Campus (96% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fairfield University students is 131.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($26,274 vs. $11,336).

Fairfield University vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fairfield University or Penn State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State and Fairfield University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Fairfield University (1330) is the same as at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming Fairfield University students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairfield University 1260/1390; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairfield University 29/32; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Fairfield University - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Fairfield University Jan 15, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Fairfield University (33.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.7% at Fairfield University vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Fairfield University vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fairfield University and Penn State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Fairfield University's (82%).
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn a median of about $21,800 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,100 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Fairfield University graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fairfield University graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More Fairfield University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.