Head-to-head comparison
Fairfield University vs Connecticut College: which has better ROI?
Option A Fairfield, CT
Fairfield University
- Net price / year
- $48,095
- Earnings, 10 years
- $88,794
- Payback
- 4.8 yrs
Option B New London, CT
Connecticut College
- Net price / year
- $36,175
- Earnings, 10 years
- $75,001
- Payback
- 5.4 yrs
Fairfield University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $192,380 in 4.8 years versus 5.4 years at Connecticut College, on median earnings of $88,794 vs $75,001 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fairfield University | Connecticut College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $48,095 | $36,175 |
| Total net cost | $192,380 | $144,700 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $88,794 | $75,001 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $23,500 |
| Payback | 4.8 yrs | 5.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $616,300 | $388,120 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Fairfield University or Connecticut College?
Connecticut College, at $36,175 a year after aid versus $48,095 — a gap of $11,920 a year, or $47,680 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Fairfield University or Connecticut College graduates earn more?
Fairfield University graduates report a median $88,794 ten years after entry, $13,793 more than the $75,001 at Connecticut College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Fairfield University or Connecticut College?
Connecticut College: its completers carry a median $23,500 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Fairfield University, a difference of $2,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
84% of students finish at Fairfield University, against 82% at Connecticut College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.