Head-to-head comparison
Fairfield University vs Trinity 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 Hartford, CT
Trinity College
- Net price / year
- $34,832
- Earnings, 10 years
- $90,779
- Payback
- 3.3 yrs
Trinity College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $139,328 in 3.3 years versus 4.8 years at Fairfield University, on median earnings of $90,779 vs $88,794 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fairfield University | Trinity College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $48,095 | $34,832 |
| Total net cost | $192,380 | $139,328 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $88,794 | $90,779 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $23,000 |
| Payback | 4.8 yrs | 3.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $616,300 | $709,052 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Fairfield University or Trinity College?
Trinity College, at $34,832 a year after aid versus $48,095 — a gap of $13,263 a year, or $53,052 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 Trinity College graduates earn more?
Trinity College graduates report a median $90,779 ten years after entry, $1,985 more than the $88,794 at Fairfield University. 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 Trinity College?
Trinity College: its completers carry a median $23,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Fairfield University, a difference of $3,000. 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 84% at Trinity 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.