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#115 in U.S. News Best National Universities Ranking for 2023
Fairfield University debuts as #115 for top-ranked institutions, having moved into U.S. News & World Report's National Universities category this year. Among private institutions in the National Universities category, Fairfield placed in the top 75.
No. 29 Spot Best Undergraduate Teaching in America
Fairfield University earned the #29 spot among national universities ranked for Best Undergraduate Teaching by U.S. News & World Report 2023.
Top 5% Best Colleges
for Nursing, Accounting & Finance
According to Niche’s 2023 Best Colleges ranking, Fairfield was ranked No. 29 out of 762 (in the top 5 percent) by, and in the top 5 percent of Best Colleges for Accounting and Finance in America, at No. 46 out of 829.
Top 25%
of colleges and universities in U.S.
Top 5% Bachelor’s / Master’s Degrees
in U.S.
In addition to placing #105 nationally out of 2,576 colleges in the Best Overall Colleges category, 2022 Ranking highlights for 31 of Fairfield University’s bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degree programs. College Factual uses a variety of data sources to calculate its rankings but the core of data comes from U.S. government sources such as the Institute of Education Sciences, the National Center of Education Statistics, Bureau of Labor and Statistics, Department of Labor, and the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard data collection.
New England Best Value Rankings
In the “Best Value” category, a ranking for the highest quality majors for the most affordable cost, Fairfield placed in the Top 10-20% in the New England region in a number of categories, including:
- #2 in Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Mental Health Counseling
- #3 in Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Mathematics
- #3 in Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Electrical Engineering
- #3 in Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Nursing
- #3 in Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Mathematics
Statewide
Recognitions and Rankings
Statewide placements include #1 in Connecticut in Best Management Information Systems Schools; #1 in Best Accounting Bachelor’s Degree Schools; #1 in Best Speech Communication Bachelor’s Degree Schools; #1 Best Communication & Media Studies Schools; #1 Best Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Master’s Degree Schools; #2 Best Nursing Schools; #3 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools; and #3 Best Health Professional Schools. Fairfield was also ranked #2 in Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Business Administration and Management in Connecticut, and #2 in Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Accounting in Connecticut.
TOP 20%
Best Colleges in America, Ranked by Value
Fairfield University has once again been ranked in Money Magazine’s annual list of 'Best Colleges for Your Money.' Placing in the list’s top 75 out of 476 private colleges included in the ranking Fairfield falls in the top 13% of private colleges and universities nationwide. Additionally, the University was ranked in the top 20% nationally among all 744 schools included in the national rankings.
Top 10% Best Value Colleges in U.S.
This year, Niche placed Fairfield University in the top 15 percent of more than 1,500 colleges and universities in the Best Colleges in America ranking, and in the top 15 percent of Top Private Universities in America. Fairfield was also ranked in the top 10 percent of Best Value Colleges in America, and Best College Campuses in America.
No. 13
Best Catholic Colleges
In Niche's 2023 review of Best Catholic Colleges, Fairfield earned high marks among the top 10 percent, placing No. 13 out of 166 schools.
Fairfield Degrees
regionally
ranked #1
Regionally, Fairfield was ranked #1 in Best School Psychology Master’s Degree Schools; #1 in Best Communication & Media Studies Master’s Degree Schools; #1 in Best Public Relations & Advertising Bachelor’s Degree Schools; #1 in Best Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools; and #2 in Best Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Doctor’s Degree Schools.
Happiest Students
Fairfield has been named to Princeton Review’s annual ranking of the 386 Best Colleges for 2021. The University also was named to several national Top 20 lists, earning a spot on the ranking’s list of Top 20 Schools with the Happiest Students.
BEST 386
COLLEGES FOR 2021
Fairfield was named to Princeton Review's annual college rankings of the best 386 colleges for 2021. Fairfield earned several national and regional distinctions, including places on the review’s lists of Best Northeastern Colleges, Best Value Colleges, and Green Colleges.
No. 1 for Communications
Fairfield fared best in class in research site Niche's statewide rankings, placing No. 1 on their list of Best Colleges for Communications in the state of Connecticut.
High 'Salary Yardstick' post graduation
Fairfield’s leap to the top 33% of Kiplinger’s 2019 rankings are distinguished by their high ‘salary yardstick’ — students’ anticipated median job earnings following graduation — which top $72,000, as well as their high graduation rate (79%) and low average debt upon graduation ($32,186).
Top 5%
of U.S. Colleges
In College Factual’s 2022 annual rankings of Best Overall Colleges, Fairfield was ranked in the Top 5 percent of all colleges and universities in the nation. Bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate level programs across the University received high national placement in categories such as Business, Management & Marketing; Management Information Systems; Accounting; Marketing; Finance & Financial Management; Communication & Journalism; Nursing; and Mental Health & Social Health Services. College Factual analyzes more than 2,000 schools annually to determine its rankings in a variety of categories.
No. 23
Best-Run College in U.S.
Fairfield is profiled in the Princeton Review's publication, The Best 388 Colleges: 2023 Edition, among just 14 percent of America’s four-year colleges.
Top 5 Safest Colleges
in CT
In Niche's 2021 Best Colleges ranking, Fairfield was named to the top 5 safest colleges in the state of Connecticut and was also recognized in their list of Connecticut schools with the best locations.
$1
Billion
Fairfield University contributes over $1 billion to the local economy, according to a recent student by the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges.
The total direct spending — the amount of money spent directly by the University and University employees, students, and visitors — topped $630 million, with more than $100 million contributed by employees alone.
Best Value College
in America
Fairfield has once again been included in Niche's annual ranking of Best College in America, placing in the top 10% of their nationwide list of Best Value Colleges in America for 2021.
Top 1%
for Long-Term Value
The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce ranked 4,500 colleges and universities by return on investment (ROI) for its 2022 study, and Fairfield is among those that lead the list. Using new data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, a recently published Georgetown study titled "Ranking 4,500 Colleges by ROI (2022)" determined that Fairfield University is a national leader once again for return on investment 40 years after graduation. According to this year’s report, Fairfield University moved up to #54 (from #62 in 2019) among all institutions, placing in the top one percent for ROI. The University also ranked high up for its average alumni earning potential ten years after graduation ($141,000).
Grad Business Programs Among the Top 25 in the U.S.
Graduate programs in Fairfield University’s Charles F. Dolan School of Business placed in the Top 25 nationwide in the 2022 edition of U.S. News Best Graduate Schools rankings: Accounting ranked No. 21, Marketing ranked No. 23, Finance ranked No. 16, and Business Analytics ranked No. 13.. The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies' Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program and Master of Science in Nursing program was ranked No. 76 of 700 schools in the nation for Best Grad Nursing Programs.