Fairfield Launches Full-Tuition Scholarship Program for Jesuit and Cristo Rey High School Students

In 1540, St. Ignatius of Loyola founded the Society of Jesus with six of his closest companions, laying the groundwork for a nearly 500-year tradition dedicated to the life transforming power of education. From that moment, this group of “God’s soldiers,” also known as the “The Company of Jesus," would go on to “set the world aflame,” serving the underserved and dedicating their lives to social justice through education.

Honoring these principles and its commitment as a Jesuit institution to providing underserved communities with pathways to higher learning, Fairfield University is excited to announce The Company Scholars, a unique cohort-based scholarship program that offers up to 12 four-year, full tuition grants to low-income students attending Jesuit and Cristo Rey high schools. Students selected to participate in the program become part of an elite group, or company, of diverse individuals who are engaged in academic excellence and equipped with a supportive network and a platform to make a difference in their community.

As part of the program model, students will actively engage in a creative service project within the greater Fairfield community — one that educates, impacts, and enhances the Jesuit principles of outreach and social justice upon which the University was founded.

“Fairfield University is committed to providing a values-based, student-centric, outcomes-focused education that is attainable to all students,” said Corry Unis, vice president of enrollment management. “The Company Scholars program further enhances our commitment to serving a diverse population and making sure that a Fairfield education is affordable and accessible. By building upon our preexisting relationships with Jesuit and Cristo Rey high schools, we are able to explore this new pathway of access and find ways to remove barriers so students can experience the amazing opportunities Fairfield offers, both in and out of the classroom.”

In addition to meeting the full financial need of each selected student, inclusive of room and board, The Company Scholars’ unique cohort model allows the University to connect participants with faculty mentors, academic and career advisors, and study abroad and research opportunities in the ‘company’ of a supportive peer group. Once enrolled, students are invited to engage in Fairfield’s Academic Immersion program, a summer bridge program that allows students to earn credits prior to the start of their first academic year and eases their transition into college life by promoting bonding with their peers. This type of cohort model is designed to help students quickly establish a sense of belonging and support that is statistically proven to increase retention rates.

“Fairfield continues to see great student success and no achievement gap within our population,” Unis said. “As a university, we want to continue to invest in our students, as well as diversify our population, and this new program is just one of many initiatives we are committed to upholding."

For application deadlines and additional program information, students are encouraged to visit the Office of Financial Aid’s grants and scholarships webpage, or contact Nakia Letang, Associate Director of Admission, at nletang@fairfield.edu.

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