U.S. News & World Report's 2025 Best Colleges Rankings place Fairfield 7th nationally among all national Doctoral/Professional Universities (DPU), as classified by the Carnegie classification system.
Fairfield University continues to solidify its position as a leading academic institution, earning notable placements in the 2025 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges Rankings. This news comes as the University welcomes its Class of 2028, a cohort chosen from among a record-breaking pool of 18,505 applicants. The most academically competitive class to be admitted in the University’s history, these first-years boast an average weighted GPA of 3.96.
Fairfield’s academic selectivity has driven our acceptance rate down to an unprecedented 33 percent, a significant decrease from the previous year.
"These rankings reflect the tremendous progress we’ve made this year, underscoring Fairfield’s dedication to academic excellence and innovation. Our continued rise among national universities is a direct result of our expanding programs, increased student success, and strategic investments in faculty and resources,” said President Mark R. Nemec, PhD. “We are poised for even greater acceleration in the coming years, as we remain focused on delivering a transformative educational experience that prepares our students to thrive in a rapidly evolving world."
U.S. News & World Report’s rankings assess nearly 1,500 national colleges and universities based on up to 17 academic quality measures, with a focus on social mobility and post-graduation outcomes.
Among 442 institutions in the National Universities category, Fairfield University is ranked No. 132 overall, and earned recognition in several specialty categories, reflecting the University’s dedication to academic excellence and student success. Out of 161 national Doctoral/Professional Universities (DPU), as classified by the Carnegie classification system, Fairfield is No. 7.
