Fairfield University’s Class of 2028 Applicant Pool Sets New Records, Including Most Competitive Admit Rate

Admitted students posing and smiling during their Orientation tour.

For the third consecutive year, Fairfield welcomes its most academically competitive cohort, marking a significant milestone in the Jesuit University’s 82-year history and driving the admit rate to its lowest yet.

Fairfield University is excited to announce a record surge in the number of applicants for the Class of 2028, increasing the academic quality and geographic reach of the incoming class. With more than 18,500 applicants — nearly 20 percent more than last year and the most in the University’s history — the new class was selected with a strategic focus on expanding the institution’s national and global footprint. This heightened interest, along with academic selectivity, drives Fairfield’s acceptance rate down to 33 percent, a notable decrease from the previous year’s 44.9 percent.

Raising the bar again, the average high school weighted GPA of the Class of 2028 stands at 3.96, up from last year’s average of 3.85. The new applicant pool hails from 46 states in addition to Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and 73 different countries.

“We extend a warm welcome to the Class of 2028 as they join our supportive community,” said Vice President for Enrollment Management Corry Unis. “While we celebrate the academic credentials of this incoming class, we have also taken great care to assemble a student body focused on embracing the Jesuit mission, challenging themselves, and advancing into leadership roles.”

Many students are attracted to Fairfield’s student-centric, values-based, and outcomes-focused approach, which is woven into the Jesuit tradition and Catholic identity. Anchored by a strong institutional mission, Fairfield fosters a culture where students are empowered to feed their passions, explore their purpose, and realize their full potential.

The admission team looks forward to welcoming admitted students to campus for Fairfield in Focus, scheduled for April 7 and 13, 2024. During these immersive half-day events, prospective students may attend academic presentations from each of the University’s four schools, learn about clubs and organizations, tour the 200-acre campus, and even catch a game on one of our athletics fields.

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