Fairfield University

What is the history of Fairfield University?

Fairfield University is a private Jesuit university founded in 1942 in Fairfield, Connecticut. The Society of Jesus established it as a Catholic institution offering undergraduate education in the liberal arts; its academic offerings later expanded into business, engineering, nursing, education, and graduate study.

The university became coeducational in 1970. A more recent development is Fairfield Bellarmine, an associate-degree initiative based in Bridgeport. Prospective students should distinguish Bellarmine's programs and location from the bachelor's and graduate programs primarily associated with Fairfield's main campus.

What are the faculties and departments at Fairfield University?

Fairfield University organizes its main academic programs across the College of Arts and Sciences, the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, the School of Engineering and Computing, and the School of Education and Human Development. Fairfield Bellarmine offers associate-degree pathways in Bridgeport.

The College of Arts and Sciences includes fields such as biology, communication, economics, English, psychology, and the visual and performing arts. Dolan houses business disciplines including accounting, finance, management, and marketing. Students can also pursue areas such as nursing, public health, mechanical engineering, and education, subject to the degrees and entry requirements of the particular program.

Fairfield offers bachelor's and graduate credentials, while Bellarmine provides a distinct associate-degree route. Applicants comparing majors should check the academic catalog for the credential, curriculum, clinical or fieldwork requirements, and campus associated with their intended program; university-wide admission does not necessarily settle admission to a specialized major.

What is the location of Fairfield University?

Fairfield University's main campus is in Fairfield, Connecticut, a suburban town on Long Island Sound. Fairfield Bellarmine operates in nearby Bridgeport, so applicants should confirm where their particular program meets rather than assuming every course is on the main campus.

Fairfield's location gives students access to the New York-New Haven rail corridor. Metro-North service from the Fairfield area can be useful for trips and some internships, although travel time and the trip between a station and campus matter for commuters. Students planning to drive should also check university parking rules: first-year students generally may not register or park a car on campus.

What is the mission and vision of Fairfield University?

Fairfield describes its educational mission in Jesuit and Catholic terms, emphasizing intellectual development alongside ethical reflection, service, and attention to the whole person. Its stated approach combines liberal learning with preparation for professional and civic life.

That affiliation is part of the university's institutional identity, not a measure of any individual student's religious practice. Applicants can assess how it appears in the core curriculum, campus ministry, service opportunities, and their intended program's requirements. Stated values describe the university's aims; they do not, by themselves, establish every student's experience.