Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT, USA

Reviews

Fairfield University

Kristin from Martinsville, NJ

a current student here
8 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
The teachers focus on broadening your view and the extensive core forces you to study fields you would have never considered, but could decide major in.
Am enjoying being here
I wanted to be at a city school, but there is a small town that you can get bussed to. The train station will take you to NYC. Most of the people are very nice and getting involved helps make assimilating much easier.
Bang for the buck
The school provides for a lot of nice features like free HBO. They are actually renovating one dining hall and building multiple new residences with state of the art equipment. They try to constantly listen and give the student body what they want.
Tips for prospective students
Stay overnight, it helps you get a better feel for if you could see yourself on campus.
There is no football team so be prepared.
Get involved. It's the best way to make friends
Make sure you own rain boots and invest in a high quality rain jacket, in winter we get more rain than snow because we are on the beach.
Great for these types of students
Humanitarians, Religious Students, Active Members of Society, Nursing Majors, Hard Working Students

Student at Fairfield University from CT

a current student here
4 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Fairfield University is a beautiful Jesuit university, focusing on Liberal Arts. Its strong programs include majors in the College of Arts and Sciences, Engineering School, Nursing Programs, Natural Science, and of course one of the top-ranking business schools. Fairfield University has a high-quality education with very knowledgeable professors, teaching theory as well as practical skills in the world.
Tips for prospective students
The first semester is the most difficult as it is the transition. However, this is the time to make friends, connections, study hard and start out with good GPA, and get involved with different clubs.

You should be prepared for college academics, and realize that they will require work.

Students should ALWAYS make the most out of their semesters at Fairfield by putting in their best efforts in class and getting involved on campus. Fairfield offers opportunities that you would not otherwise have - such as access to great professors, study abroad, and more. - Definitely take advantage of it to make the most of it!
Academic Rigor
The course-load is high with lots of readings, writing assignments, midterms, and finals. However, it is manageable if one studies diligently. Upper class seminars are good for discussion and have less written work.

In addition, the professors at Fairfield University are extremely knowledgeable and do active research. They are very welcoming and helpful to students.
Dorm Life
Some dorms are larger-sized and clean. Different residence colleges focus on different themes like social justice and creative life (arts, music, etc). Upperclassmen can dorm in appartments, live in off-campus houses next to the university, or rent a house with friends at Fairfield Beach.
Food and Dining
There are several food options on campus: the main cafeteria, the university cafe (pastries, coffee, sandwiches), a grill-type restaurant, and an on-campus bar/pub. The food is overall good-tasting, but not very healthy, although healthy options do exist. In addition, the food is generally expensive.
What to do for fun
Students can go to New York City, which is less than an hour away by train. Other close-by cities where students can go for fun in the evening are Norwalk and New Haven.

Students can also go to Fairfield Beach. In fact, several students live on the beach.
Overall, Fairfield is in a great location to enjoy the beauty and nature of New England.
Bang for the buck
Fairfield University is very expensive, although standard for US private universities. Every year the price increases by several percent points. However, it does offer good financial aid for those who need it. It also offers a few top competitive scholarships - the highest being the Magis Scholarship and the Bellarmine Scholarship.

However, the education is overall very high quality and the professors are great. Students also have almost unlimited opportunities to explore what they need professionally as well as what they are interested in.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Some students consider it a right of a passage to ride the Stag statue at the center of campus before they graduate Fairfield University!
Great for these types of students
Fairfield University is best suited for students who care about social justice and volunteering. It offers numerous opportunities for community service, service trips throughout the US, service trips around the world, and more. The spirit of Jesuit volunteering is very strong here.

Fairfied University is also well suited for students who are self-motivated and want to take advantage of things like double and even triple majoring! It is great for students who seek research opportunities in the natural sciences.
Clubs and Activities
There is a total of over 60 or 70 clubs on campus in many different topics in academics, competitions, sports, arts, music, and more. Clubs range from traditional ones like Debate Tea, to club sports (which are fairly competition) to more relaxed and fun clubs like Ballroom Dancing and Quiddittch. They are entirely student run, include their own constitutions, and are accountable to their members and the university. In addition there is a wide variety of honors societies chapters on campus that are affiliated with the main National honors Societies, including Jesuit Honors Society.
Greek Life
As a Jesuit University, Fairfield University does not have Greek Associations.
Campus Safety
The campus is very safe. Walking around the campus during any time of the day or night is very safe, and Public Safety is quite active at handling any situations that arrive. I have not felt unsafe. Of course, basic common knowledge safety procedures should be followed at all times, regardless of the good safety on campus.

Jessica from Mansfield, MA

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Fairfield University is a small, tight-knit community with a big personality. One step on the campus will show you how proud the Fairfield Stags are to call this beautiful campus their home. Whether you are walking to class past the magnificent Bellarmine Hall, playing basketball in the gym, lounging on the grass in the Quad, or sitting in the Starbucks in the library, there is always that feeling of comfort coming from the outgoing student, the helpful teachers and the friendly workers who are along side you.
Tips for prospective students
Fairfield University strives for diversity. In one's application, it is important to display the wide range of activities one has pursued throughout high school. Fairfield University is interested in people who have had success in the classroom but also have achieved outside the classroom through sports, community service or other extracurricular activities.
Academic Rigor
Fairfield University, as a Jesuit school, focuses its curriculum around a liberal arts education, meaning that all students must fulfill certain core requirements, which incorporate a vast number of different subjects, in addition to major-specific courses. With that said, Fairfield University utilizes the Core to create knowledgeable, well-round students, who are appealing to the workforce, graduate schools, and beyond. All of Fairfield's qualified professors strive to engage their students and provide them with a comprehensive knowledge of their specific subject material. Although the Core may seem excessive sometimes, for example, a nursing student is required to take two history courses, every teacher is dedicated and enthusiastic to the subject that they teach, making each class an important and worthwhile educational experience. Individually, each class differs in rigor depending on the teacher and though most classes are demanding in regards to their workload, each course is an exploration into an aspect of the world and helps develops one's values and initiative.
Dorm Life
Fairfield University provides excellent housing options. As a freshman at Fairfield, you are placed in one of four residents halls. A majority of students are randomly placed with one other roommate or, in a very small number of cases, with two other people. As a freshman, one also has the opportunity to join a living-learning community in which the floor that one lives on will meet around once a month to discuss matters like healthy living, women in math and science, or community service. As one gets older, more opportunities arise for housing options with the light at the end of the tunnel being the chance to live off-campus at the beach as a senior. As an upperclassman, one also has the opportunity to pick their roommates as well as where they want to live. The options vary from two-person dorms to four person suites to eight person townhouses. In regards to the actual dorms, there is little to complain about. The rooms are a fairly large size, even the freshman dorms, and are equipped with a bed, a desk, a wardrobe, a three-drawer dresser, and a micro-fridge. Each dorm has at least one lounge, some having a lounge on every floor, and some having one large lounge filled with plenty of seating, kitchen appliances for cooking, a television and other amenities. The dorms at Fairfield University are also kept spotless by hardworking, dedicated workers. The bathrooms are cleaned at least twice a week and the hallways are always litter-free. Upperclassmen living in suites, townhouses or apartments often have bathrooms within their dorm rooms rather than shared communal bathrooms.
Food and Dining
The food and dining at Fairfield University is pretty good for a college campus. Fairfield University runs on swipes rather than dining dollars. The basic plan that is given to incoming freshmen is 14 meal swipes a week to use at the main dining hall and $100 to use in the other dining places throughout campus. The main dining hall, located in the center of campus, is buffet style. Here there is a station where you can order any type of sandwich, a salad bar, a pizza bar, a stir-fry station, and other stations which serve a variety of menu items that rotate throughout the day depending on the meal. The main dining hall also has a variety of gluten-free options and is very accommodating to those with food allergies who need specially made food. In addition, there is a great selection of desserts, including an ice cream bar with both hard and soft-serve ice cream, and a large selection of various sodas, coffees, teas, and hot chocolates. Though the menu sometimes gets repetitive, everything tastes fresh, the dining hall is kept very clean and the chefs are always looking for suggestions. There are plenty of other options as well. Firstly is the Stag. The Stag is another dining hall which serves an array of food from delicious flatbread pizzas to freshly made sushi to juicy burgers. The Stag also has on the go snacks and food items like cereal to bring back to your room. The Stag accepts dining dollars usually, with the exception being certain times in the day when you can trade a meal swipe in for a specific food item. There is also a Starbucks, an Einstein Bros Bagels, and a pizza diner called The Levee on campus, all which accept dining dollars.
What to do for fun
Fairfield University is not a â??suitcaseâ?? campus; you will not be packing up every weekend to go off somewhere else. Whether you want to stay on the campus or adventure off into the town of Fairfield, there is always something fun to do. In regards to staying on campus, the University holds and sponsors tons of fun activities and events. Whether it be going to a menâ??s basketball game where there are always free t-shirts or giveaways, going to a themed late night buffet in the main dining hall, watching newly released movies in the auditorium, or joining an intramural team, there is fun for every type of person, every day of the week. In the warmer months, it is common to see people lounging on the grass in the Quad, having a picnic or throwing the football around, or going to the beach (only five minutes down the road!) for the day. While in the winter, the huge hill outside the library is a popular spot for tubing and other snow activities. For those who wish to take a trip off campus for the afternoon or for a weekend, students of Fairfield can look to the Stag Bus to take them where they want to go. Every day of the week the Stag Bus runs to and from Fairfield, bringing people to center of town, which is filled with tons of cute boutiques, popular retail stores, a CVS, a supermarket, and special little restaurants (I highly recommend the Firehouse Deli for their delicious sandwiches and subs), to the local train station, which can bring you to NYC in just under an hour, and on the weekends, it runs to a big mall up the street. The University often sponsors trips into the city to see the tree lighting in Rockefeller Center or offers $40 tickets to see a Broadway play, for example.
Bang for the buck
Though Fairfield University is up there for cost, the experience and education one gets is more than worth the high price tag. First things first, Fairfield is an extremely generous school, giving away incredible scholarships and aid to hardworking students and their deserving families. Beyond that, the facilities and faculty on campus are exceptional. The campus is always kept in beautiful conditions, including the buildings, landscape, and residence halls. Much of the technology and resources available to students are high-end and of great quality. The library specifically is filled with Mac and PC devices for student use, as well as printers and scanners. The library also offers research assistance and technology support in their respective offices. The gymnasium too is filled with up-to-date equipment and is currently set to be further remodeled in the near future. The staff and workers also contribute to the overall worth of oneâ??s experience at Fairfield. Professors are extremely intelligent in their line of work and are always understanding and willing to help. Workers and staff around the campus are friendly, polite, and exceptionally accommodating.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
The very first tradition at Fairfield University, above all others, is one must â??rideâ?? the stag statue at least once during their freshman year. Itâ??s a funny sight to see people being hoisted up and then posing on the back of the stag for a necessary photo op. The next tradition that is looked forward to by all Fairfield students is the midnight breakfast. The infamous midnight breakfast marks the start of finals week in which students are served a late night dinner by professors and other staff while singing and dancing along to Christmas tunes blasted through the main dining hall. Dancing on the tables and taking pictures with the mascot, Lucas the Stag, are a must during the midnight breakfast and itâ??s a good way to take a break from the accumulating stress that accompanies finals week. In addition to many more fun traditions on campus, there are also a few places that you must visit. The first is The Levee. The Levee is an on-campus diner that serves some really great pizza, calzones, and other Italian favorites. The Levee is a fun place to hangout on a weekend night with some friends, playing pool, singing karaoke on the stage and munching on some good food. Another place to visit is Bellarmine Hall. Bellarmine Hall is a huge mansion on top of the main hill on campus. This is where the Presidentâ??s office is and is a gorgeous place relax and to take pictures of the Long Island Sound!
Great for these types of students
Fairfield University has a place for every kind of student from any kind of background. Here at Fairfield, everyone is super warm and friendly and there are so many clubs and activities that there is always something for everyone. There are always staff and other students willing to support, mentor, or aid with the transition into Fairfield or during other hard situations. From pep band to intramural sports to engineering club, there are plenty of activities to partake in and new people to meet.
Clubs and Activities
The hugely popular club and activities fair held at the beginning of each fall semester is representative of the vast amount of fun and exciting clubs and activities that Fairfield University has to offer. Some clubs the University offers include the Outdoors Club, which takes hiking trips to local mountains, Collages Against Cancer, which is a club that fundraises and goes on walks to support cancer awareness and the search for a cure, and also FUSA, which stands for Fairfield University Student Association, who are the main people behind all the events on campus from the fall and spring concert to Late Night at Barone, themed late night dinner gatherings in the main dining hall. Fairfield also offers athletic clubs, diversity clubs, academic clubs, and even some more unusual clubs like Ballroom Dancing Club and the Archery Club. The clubs on campus are a great way to meet new people and even to try something new. Fairfield also holds a lot of activities for its students. Every Friday night the University holds a movie showing of a recently released movie in its main auditorium. Another popular thing to do on campus is go to one of the Division 1 sports games. Whether it be lacrosse, soccer, field hockey, volleyball or basketball, it is a lot of fun to be a part of the screaming fan section of Fairfield students at these games. Fairfield also has its fair share of famous speakers, art shows and day long awareness days that are each interesting and exciting in their own ways.
Greek Life
There is no Greek life at Fairfield University.
Campus Safety
Campus safety is incredible at Fairfield University. There is never a time where one should feel unsafe walking around. There is an array of campus police on campus at all times, even with the fact that the town of Fairfield is virtually one of the safest college towns around. The blue lights all around campus also add an additional feeling of safety for its students. Fairfield University takes every precaution to keep its students out of danger yet is not an overwhelming force. The campus police are distant enough so that the students feel safe and secure but do not feel that their privacy is being invaded or limited.

Katherine from Woodbury, CT

a current student here
3 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Fairfield has a beautiful campus year round. It is close and convenient to get to New York City. The is always something for everyone, whether it be majors, sports, clubs, or organizations.
Tips for prospective students
Do not hold back! Take every opportunity that you are given, you never know what you are going to like until you try it! Who knows, you may love it!
Academic Rigor
There will always be some classes that are harder than others, or will have more reading than others. In the end, do not be afraid to ask for help. The school is small enough to work hands on with students and professors want to to go to their office hours and ask your questions.
Dorm Life
No matter where you go to college, first year dorms are always small. Fairfield has four first year dorms with mostly double rooms and very minimal triples. Some floors are co-ed, others are all one gender. Some floors also have themes that students can sign up for during their housing application over the summer. Other housing options include suites, new apartments, townhouses, and even houses on the beach (seniors only).
Food and Dining
From what I have heard from years past, the food and dining services have improved greatly over the past few years. There is the main dining hall (Barone) which has everything from salad bar, to daily pizza, burgers and fries. Ice cream everyday and the other meals follow a 28 day rotation, so there is always something new and different. There is a vegetarian station and even a stir fry section. In the main campus center we have a coffee/bagel/muffin shop. Then there is the Stag where you can get everything from pizza, burgers, chicken nuggets, sandwiches and salads daily.
What to do for fun
There is always something going on on campus. Basketball is very popular and students get to go for free and transportation is provided. Every Friday night there is a newly released movie. FUSA (Fairfield University Students Association) will also sponsored trips off campus with transportation provided to rock climbing, midnight bowling, laser tag, outlet shopping trips and more! Fairfield also has a great film and media program so make friends with the media majors because you never know when they will need extras in their movies!
Bang for the buck
Yes Fairfield is one of the more expensive universities out there, but I would say that its definitely worth it. Fairfield gives plenty of financial aid and scholarships to hundreds of students. There always appears to be free stuff. At sport events and even events on campus, so you do not have to worry about not getting any Stag pride gear!
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Bail and Jail is probably my favorite. It takes place in the spring and there are tons of cops on horses and cops in general. You can send a complaint in about a friend, staff, or faculty member and the cops will go find that person, handcuff them and bring them to jail! (jail cell in traffic circle) If you are arrested you then must bail yourself or your friends out. You get a free t shirt and food! All of the procceded go to the Special Olympics.
Great for these types of students
Like I said earlier, there is something for everyone on campus!
Clubs and Activities
Fairfield offers over 100 clubs and or activities to get involved in on campus. Everything to theatre, dance, badminton club, sports, student government, and more!
Greek Life
There is no greek life on campus.
Campus Safety
Fairfield is a very safe campus. There are Public Safety officers patrolling campus 24/7. Our location is in a rural setting in a residential area of Fairfield. We are gated in on all sides and we also have the blue light emergency system.

Cassie from Pelham Manor, NY

a current student here
2 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Fairfield University offeres a variety of majors within each designated school. There is more than a lot to do on campus, both academic and extracurricular. The campus is a beautiful, welcoming home.
Tips for prospective students
It is okay to come to Fairfield with an undecided major. The core is an excellent way to explore what you might possibly like, and to decide what doesn't interest you at all.
Academic Rigor
Each professor has different standards when it comes to the classroom. Some professors will be very easy, and others incredibly difficult. Some may assign homework every night, when others may only ask you to review the material learned in class that day. If you would like to take a challenging class, then Fairfield has plenty to offer. If you want to try an easier, intro level course, then those are available as well. But no matter professor you are taking, each and every one of them pushes you to do your best!
Dorm Life
The freshman dorms are live-able. There is no air conditioning, but it isn't much of a problem because it is only hot for the first few weeks. Roommates are random for the first years, however the roommate situation usually works out for the best. Each dorm provides a sense of community through community building events and activities.
Food and Dining
The food is moderate, but better than most college cafeterias. Sometimes the choices are few, but there is a stir-fry station with many ingredients each night. The dining hall is what you make of it.
What to do for fun
Clubs, organizations, intramurals, and more! Fairfield offers more extracurriculars than you can handle. Whether it be hanging out on the quad with friends, going to grab a cup of coffee, or tanning on the library lawn, there is always something to do!
Campus Safety
I always feel safe on my campus. There are emergency buttons all throughout campus if ever needed.

from Woodbury, CT

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Fairfield University is a great community-building university. There are always students around, who are friendly and willing to work together. Group interactions are always encouraged.
Tips for prospective students
The one tip I can offer up is to try and stay true to who you are. It's very easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing, but this won't make you happy in the long run. You'll be able to find other people who are interested in the same things that you are.
Academic Rigor
I am a double major in Biology and Music, and I happen to believe that the Biology department at Fairfield is on the rigorous side. This is true especially for the molecular biology and biochemistry courses.
Dorm Life
It is really easy to make friends and form a community in the dorms. I highly recommend the Ignatian Residential College because it helped me to find friends and build a lasting community. There are other residential colleges in the dorms that are also big on community building.
Food and Dining
The food is decent. It's pretty much the same as any other college campus.
What to do for fun
There are so many clubs and intramural sports that it's easy to find something that you're interested in. Also, the campus is really close to the beach for sunny days!
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
There are a lot of little niches on campus where you can find an isolated place to study, so don't give up too easy. Bellarmine lawn is also a great place to star-gaze. And the pond over by the Dolan School of Business is a nice place to sit and read a book, or just enjoy the nice weather.
Clubs and Activities
Lots of them! And it's easy to create a club with something you're interested in, if we don't have one already.
Greek Life
It's not allowed on campus.

a current student here
0 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Fairfield offers a friendly environment to learn, inspire and thrive at what you wish do to after college. There are millions of resources at the touch of your fingertips. The community is very friendly and everyone in the community is there to help you do your best and have a comfortable transition from high school to college.
Tips for prospective students
Use the library
Use the free public tutoring
Always ask for help when needed
Academic Rigor
Don't underestimate the academic rigor at Fairfield University. Fairfield does a good job hiring some of the best professors around and they do a good job at pushing kids to try their best.
Dorm Life
Make friends with people on your hall, they are all friendly and some of them could turn out to be your best friend. I thought I would hate dorm life, but it turns out that I got use to it pretty quickly.
Food and Dining
Food and dining is decent, but you can clearly see that the food provider is trying their best to improve the food everyday.
What to do for fun
There is a beach nearby, plenty of activities to do in town at night and the school offer concerts and an annual dance.
Bang for the buck
While Fairfield can be very expense, if you choose to come here. I would take advantage of all the disposable resources that you will be given.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Riding the Stag
Great for these types of students
Preppy
Clubs and Activities
I play club sports here. All the upperclassmen are friendly and help the newcomers out.
Greek Life
None
Campus Safety
DPS holds down Fairfield very well. They keep the safety of kids first and really try to do their job.