Fairfield University

Fairfield University is a private Catholic university in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. It was started by the Jesuits in 1942 and has become an important place for learning.

By fall 2024, the university had about 5,400 undergraduate students and around 1,500 graduate students. The university offers many types of degrees, including bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees. Since 2023, it has also offered associate’s degrees.

Students can choose from five different schools and colleges, helping them prepare for many careers. The university is known for its strong sense of community and its focus on helping students grow in learning and character.

History

Fairfield University started in 1942 when a group of priests called the Jesuits bought two big houses in Fairfield, Connecticut. They wanted to create a school and a college there. It became the 26th school in the United States run by these priests.

At first, only boys could attend. The first class of 303 boys joined in 1947. Many years later, in 1970, the university started letting girls join too. Over time, the university grew a lot. They built many new buildings, added new subjects to study, and got a lot of money to help them grow. In 2017, the university had its first president who was not a priest. The university keeps changing and growing even today.

Academics

Fairfield University has five schools and colleges: the John Charles Meditz College of Arts and Sciences, the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, the School of Engineering, the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, and the School of Education and Human Development.

The university offers 43 majors and 19 minors for undergraduate students, plus 41 graduate programs. In 2016–17, it awarded many degrees. Since 1993, 65 students have received Fulbright Scholarships.

Popular majors for undergraduate students include Nursing, Finance, Marketing, and Accounting. The university has many academic and spiritual centers, such as the Center for Social Impact and the Center for Catholic Studies.

The university opened a new campus in Bridgeport in 2023 to help students who need financial support.

Rankings

In 2025, U.S. News & World Report ranked Fairfield University tied for 132nd among "National Universities". It was also ranked 45th for "Best Undergraduate Teaching" and second for "Most Innovative".

Undergraduate admissions

Fairfield is a "More Selective" university, according to U.S. News & World Report. Students can apply using the Common Application. In 2019, the university received many applications and admitted about half of the students who applied.

Region and campus

Fairfield University is in Fairfield, Connecticut, a town near Long Island Sound. It is less than 60 miles from New York City. The town has old downtown areas and beaches.

The university's campus is 200 acres and has 35 buildings. Three special buildings were part of old estates. These are Bellarmine Hall, McAuliffe Hall, and David J. Dolan House. Many buildings are named for Jesuit priests who helped education.

The campus has the DiMenna-Nyselius Library, built in 1968 and made bigger later. There is also Fairfield College Preparatory School, a high school for boys that shares the campus. The university works to help the environment with recycling and saving energy.

Student life

Fairfield University helps students get involved and support their community. Students join projects to help families and raise awareness for health issues. They also travel to help children and women in other countries.

The Fairfield University Student Association (FUSA) speaks for all full-time undergraduate students. It helps students share ideas and plan fun activities. Students also work together for peace and fairness, sometimes holding events to share important messages. The university has its own student television station, newspaper, and radio station.

Athletics

Main article: Fairfield Stags

Fairfield University is part of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and competes in NCAA Division I for most of its sports. The university has 20 sports teams, including baseball, basketball, soccer, and swimming for both men and women.

Some teams belong to different groups. For example, the men's lacrosse team is in the Colonial Athletic Association, and the field hockey team is part of the Northeast Conference. There are also many sport clubs where students can play games like ice hockey, rugby, and sailing.

Arts and culture

Center for Arts & Minds

The Center for Arts & Minds started in 2024. It helps artists and creative groups in southwestern Connecticut. It works with groups on campus, like the Quick Center for the Arts, the university’s art museum, and centers for studying ethics and the environment.

Quick Center for the Arts

The Quick Center for the Arts is a big place for theatre and the arts at Fairfield University. It opened in 1990 and shows many kinds of shows, like music, dance, and plays. It has a big theatre for 740 people, a smaller theatre for special shows, and an art gallery.

The center also has a forum called Open VISIONS. Famous people come to talk about important issues. Some of these guests are writers, journalists, and public leaders.

Fairfield University Art Museum

The university’s art museum opened in October 2010. It is inside a beautiful old house from the 1920s and has four galleries for showing art. The biggest gallery is named after the parents of one of the people who helped pay for it.

Theatre Fairfield

Theatre Fairfield is the main group that puts on plays at the university. They have many kinds of shows, including plays written and directed by students, performances by a comedy group, and special projects by older students. Their theatre is in an old carriage house that was turned into a modern space. It has a small theatre, a coffee area, a dance studio, and rooms for designing costumes. Some famous actors started in Theatre Fairfield.

Alumni

Main article: List of Fairfield University people

Fairfield University has many successful graduates in many fields. Some work in schools and colleges, like Rebecca Cunningham, who is President of the University of Minnesota, and Charles E. Schaefer, a famous psychology professor.

Others have made their mark in arts, business, law, medicine, and helping others. For example, John L. Flannery is the Chairman and CEO of General Electric, and Peter Pronovost was named one of the most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2008. The university’s alumni include leaders, authors, scientists, and people who work hard to make the world better.