Fairfield vs Rowan University
Fairfield University and Rowan University, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to their students. Fairfield, a private Jesuit university in Connecticut, boasts a lower acceptance rate and a smaller student body compared to Rowan, a public research university in New Jersey. While both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, Fairfield is known for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, while Rowan excels in engineering, business, and health sciences. Fairfield's student body is predominantly white and Catholic, while Rowan's student body is more diverse, reflecting the broader population of New Jersey. With different graduation rates and distinct campus cultures, Fairfield and Rowan cater to different student preferences and aspirations. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover which university better aligns with your academic goals and personal preferences.
  | 
       | 
          
        
          
             
          
          Fairfield University | 
          
        
          
             
          
          Rowan University | 
      
|---|---|---|
    Overview | 
||
| Location | Fairfield, Connecticut | Glassboro, New Jersey | 
| Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large | 
| College type | 4 year | 4 year | 
| Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public | 
| Calendar system | Semester | Semester | 
| Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate | 
| Students retention rate | 89.0% | 83.0% | 
    
       
      Common app member
    
   | 
      Yes | Yes | 
| Religious affiliation | Catholic | |
| 
       | 
  ||
    Admission | 
||
| Acceptance rate | 55.8% | 83.8% | 
| Application fees | 
                         
            Undergraduate:
            $60
           
          
            Graduate:
            $65
           
                   | 
      
                         
            Undergraduate:
            $65
           
          
            Graduate:
            $65
           
                   | 
  
| SAT range | 1230 - 1380 | 1070 - 1280 | 
| ACT range | 27 - 31 | 23 - 30 | 
| Students submitting SAT score | 24.0% | 45.0% | 
| Students submitting ACT score | 7.0% | 3.0% | 
| Total number of applicants | 12,674 | 11,659 | 
| Total number of admissions given out | 7,073 | 9,767 | 
| Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,256 | 2,191 | 
| Yield rate | 17.8% | 22.4% | 
| Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A | 
| High school GPA | Required | Required | 
| Recommendation letters | Required | Not required | 
| High school transcript | Not required | Not required | 
| English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required | 
| 
       | 
  ||
    Tuition and Fees | 
||
| Sticker price | $71,860 | 
                         
            In state:
            $30,181
           
          
            Out of state:
            $39,213
           
                   | 
  
| Average net price | $44,723 | $21,425 | 
| Tuition | $52,070 | 
                         
            In state:
            $10,302
           
          
            Out of state:
            $19,334
           
                   | 
  
| Room & board | 
                         
            Room/dormitory:
            $9,850
           
          
            Meal plan:
            $6,260
           
                   | 
      
                         
            Room/dormitory:
            $8,820
           
          
            Meal plan:
            $4,784
           
                   | 
  
| Available payment plans | 
                        
  | 
      
                        
  | 
  
| 
       | 
  ||
    Financial Aid | 
||
| 
    Students receiving financial aid
     (Grants & scholarships)  | 
      
              
          94.0%
        
         Average amount $24,501  | 
      
              
          75.0%
        
         Average amount $9,344  | 
  
| Students receiving federal student loan | 
              
          59.0%
        
         Average amount $5,418  | 
      
              
          53.0%
        
         Average amount $5,360  | 
  
| Students taking out private loans | 
              
          9.0%
        
         Average amount $26,796  | 
      
              
          12.0%
        
         Average amount $17,107  | 
  
| 
       | 
  ||
    Students and Campus | 
||
| Undergraduate students | 
              
          4,603
        
        
           Men 42.1% Women 57.9%  | 
      
              
          15,119
        
        
           Men 52.5% Women 47.5%  | 
  
| Graduate students | 
              
          1,223
        
        
           Men 33.1% Women 66.9%  | 
      
              
          3,933
        
        
           Men 41.8% Women 58.2%  | 
  
| Racial/ethnic diversity | 
              
           Very Low 
       | 
      
              
           Low 
    
       | 
  
| Out-of-state students | 84.3% | 5.4% | 
| International students | 3.7% | 2.3% | 
| Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large | 
| Dormitory capacity | 3,467 | 6,418 | 
| First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No | 
| Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Mississippi New York New Jersey Connecticut Pennsylvania | New Jersey Pennsylvania New York Maryland Delaware | 
| 
       | 
  ||
    Academics | 
||
| Popular study areas | 
              
  | 
      
              
  | 
  
| Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 17:1 | 
| Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | 
| 
       | 
  ||
    Outcome | 
||
| Graduation rate | 83.9% | 68.6% | 
| Dropout rate | 9.9% | 12.6% | 
| Transferred out | 6.1% | 16.3% | 
| Alumni salary by major (Top 10) | 
               
              
                
                  Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                  
  | 
      
               
              
                
                  Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Medicine (Doctoral Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy (Doctoral Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                  
  | 
  
    
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      Common app member