Fairfield University (Fairfield)

Fairfield University is “rooted in real-world application” and career development. “Service learning is a big thing,” with one student pointing to work in a computer science class for a local nonprofit’s website: “Our group did everything from the ground up, developing and communicating with the clients.” Some classes let students “go off campus to engage with the local community, and we bring what we learned back into the class curriculum…. They are always my favorite because they are engaging and get me out of my comfort zone.” One student finds that their “academic experience has been both rigorous and deeply rewarding. My professors challenge me to master complex material while also…offering encouragement that reinforced my confidence and motivation.” Across majors, students name “the faculty who care about student success” as one of Fairfield’s greatest strengths. One student appreciates that professors go out “of their way to nourish my passions and help me go further with my academics.” Students also note Fairfield’s “incredible career development services.” The Dolan School of Business “excels at preparing students for life beyond college. Networking events and career preparation activities occur daily,” with some students reporting that they “have jobs lined up once they graduate.” In short, “Fairfield allows for students to explore so many different options and has a great career center to help prepare students for life after graduation.”

Stags are “Fairfield-centric and beach-loving students” who prioritize “everyone helping each other.” As Fairfield attracts “a large Catholic population and people interested in service who were drawn to a Jesuit school,” students “value serving the community…[and have a] strong sense of compassion, initiative, and commitment to service.” As one student describes it: “My peers look to help one another by…participating in class discussions, and supporting peers at club events and sporting events.” As a result, the overall ethos is that of “one big friendly community of people all connected.” Students also share that the student body, “while innovative, warm, and encouraging, is not the most diverse.” According to some undergrads, “most students fall within the same demographic,” of East Coast, “predominantly white, [and] from middle-upper class backgrounds.” Within the campus community, Stags count on each other to “listen and support one another, and help each other along their journey of life.”

Stags, as Fairfield students are playfully known, note that “there are so many great student organizations that foster such amazing communities on campus,” which “makes Fairfield feel like home.” Students also speak highly of the “many facilities,” from the residences to dining areas like Peet’s, where they can “hang out with friends, socialize, or get work done together.” The “great recreational facility” is also a social hub. “There’s also always a lot of people at the gym, and we have a strong intramural sports program,” which “provides the opportunity to meet lots of different people and have fun.” During warmer weather, “everyone loves to use the grass spaces to hang out outside, doing work or playing games.” Sunny weather also sees Stags heading “down to the beach area to relax with friends.” Just a short walk from campus, the Long Island Sound “is a major selling point for the school, creating a large community of beach-house students.” While at the shore, students can be found exercising—walking, running and paddleboarding are popular—and socializing, whether it’s a casual hang or one of the daytime parties (“darties”) that students say happen Thursdays through Saturdays. Students also point to the free programming of Fairfield at Night for its “very fun activities and ways to meet people.” Whether it’s sports, clubs, or beaches, “people tend to be active.”

Fairfield grads “have great job placement … [thanks to academic] programs that are fantastic.” Some of this might be attributed to the university’s “easy access to NYC and Stamford,” both of which offer “incredible options for internships and jobs.” But on top of all of that, students can utilize the career development office, which offers events throughout the year that include résumé writing workshops, industry spotlights, and employer information sessions. Undergrads can participate in a job shadowing program with alumni to get a taste of professional life. There is also Mock Interview Day, where students have a face-to-face meeting with a professional and receive performance feedback afterward. The center also offers Sophomore Success career development seminars that give second-year students the foundational skills needed in a career search, and the Center’s Senior Launch series prepares seniors for post-collegiate life, teaching students about budgeting, evaluating job offers, and finding apartments. Students’ appreciation extends beyond the career office, though, as “all university offices are extremely helpful and oriented towards student success.” Payscale.com reports that Fairfield alumni earn a median starting salary of $74,300.