Is Fairfield test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1310 and hold it if it's under.

What is Fairfield's acceptance rate?

33% of applicants were admitted in 2024–25, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 6,162 of 18,509 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 72%, from 10,767 in 2015 to 18,509 in 2024, and Fairfield's admit rate went from 65% to 33%.

What ACT score do you need for Fairfield?

5% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 29–32, with a median of 30. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1270–1370 works out to about 27–30.

Why might Fairfield's SAT range look high?

Only 14% of enrolled students sent an SAT. The range counts only those who did, and students with lower scores tend to hold theirs back.

What GPA do you need for Fairfield?

There's no published cutoff. First-year students averaged a 3.76 high school GPA, and 29% of those who reported a class rank were in their top 10%, per the Common Data Set 2024–25. Colleges compute GPA differently, so compare it loosely.

Does applying early decision help at Fairfield?

80% of early decision applicants were admitted (412 of 516), against 33% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at Fairfield?

22 of the 2,477 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 0.9%, per the Common Data Set 2024–25.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Fairfield? (Middle 50%: 1270–1370)

First-year students at Fairfield who sent an SAT scored 1270–1370, with a median of 1310 (Common Data Set 2024–25). Fairfield admits 33% of applicants and is test optional.

Fairfield University · Fairfield, CT

Where your score lands at Fairfield

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1270–1370, median 1310

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median Fewer than half sent a score, so the range runs high

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Fairfield is for you and whether to send your score.

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Fairfield by the numbers

Admit rate: 33%
Middle 50% SAT: 1270–1370
Median SAT: 1310
About on the ACT: 27–30
Sent an SAT: 14%

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Fairfield admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2024–25; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Fairfield admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 72%, from 10,767 in 2015 to 18,509 in 2024, and Fairfield's admit rate went from 65% to 33%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	18,509	6,162	33%
2023	15,463	6,956	45%
2022	13,359	6,971	52%
2021	12,674	7,073	56%
2020	12,586	7,065	56%
2019	12,315	7,035	57%
2018	11,361	6,851	60%
2017	11,218	6,794	61%
2016	11,055	6,795	61%
2015	10,767	6,995	65%

In fall 2024, 1,461 of the 6,162 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Fairfield

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1220Far reachHold
1220–1260ReachHold
1270–1300TargetHold
1310 and upTargetSend

11001200130014001500

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Fairfield SAT sections, ACT, GPA and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	630	660	690
SAT Reading and Writing	630	660	700
SAT total	1270	1310	1370
ACT composite	29	30	32

Of enrolled first-year students, 14% sent an SAT and 5% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2024–25.

Average high school GPA: 3.76
Top 10% of their class: 29%; of new students who reported a rank

Fairfield early decision and waitlist

Early decision

412 of 516 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision80%
All applicants33%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

8,898 applicants were offered a spot, 2,477 took it, and 22 were admitted from it.

0.9%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2024–25.

Fairfield cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $48,095; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 84%
Median earnings: $88,794; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 5,654

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like Fairfield

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

More colleges in Connecticut

Every college for an SAT of1270 1310 1370

Sources

Fairfield Common Data Set 2024–25
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Fairfield admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Fairfield website
Fairfield University

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1270–1370, and the median was 1310. At 1310 or higher you're above half of them. Fairfield admits 33% of applicants.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$