I had a great visit to Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. It's a very nice campus an hour and 15 minutes to Grand Central Station in New York City, and the university bus takes students to the train station for free. A Jesuit university, they have been increasing their student body by about 100 students every year for the past several years, but we are told they are sticking with around 5000 undergraduates for now. They've built a brand new $50 million arena which opened just a few months ago where the basketball and volleyball teams play and all games are free for all Fairfield students. Club sports include skiing, nationally ranked men's and women's rugby and equestrian teams.There's also an e-sports team, a dance team, And a cheer team that went to nationals.

There's a lot of school spirit and support for athletics at Fairfield!

Nursing is very strong here, and it's important for students to apply early action or early decision; last year, they accepted only 5 regular decision applicants into the program. Candidates must have a strong GPA and rigor in science, and SAT's should be at least 1390-1400, or else don't submit! The nursing program has 140-150 spots per class and the admit rate is $28%. The School of Business is also strong and a new major there is sports business. We were told that demonstrated interest is "so much more important than it used to be." Interviews are offered and are important - they had a record number of applicants this year and made some very tough decisions. Merit scholarships are generous, ranging from $16 to $28K. Most students get something, and it's awarded on a holistic basis. Fairfield prides itself on its pre-professional focus with a liberal acts foundation. As such, it's a great place to spend four years!