Fairfield University’s Class of 2029 has made history, both with the number of applications submitted and with the lowest acceptance rate. Of the 21,290 applications submitted, only 25% of students were accepted.
This number is a decrease from previous years. The acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 33% and the acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 was just under 45%.
An infographic shared with the Mirror states that the university received applications from 49 states as well as Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. In addition, they received applications from students in 91 countries.
As per the infographic, the Class of 2029 is strong academically. The average GPA of the 5,305 admitted students was 3.90 and the middle 50% of SAT scores of students who decided to submit them was between 1320 and 1420.
In terms of size, Corry Unis, Vice President of Strategic Enrollment Management, shares, “We are aiming for a class similar to last year.” More than 1,450 students arrived in the fall as part of the Class of 2028.
Of the Class of 2028, 33% lives in triples and the university seems to be on the hunt for more space, with the Conference Center being converted to triples for more sophomore housing and a remodel of the DiMenna-Nyselius Library to include six classrooms.
First-year Natalia Marciano says, “I don’t think it’s a bad thing, but they should address the shortage of housing if they’re gonna keep admitting more students.”
Senior Angelo Corsini reflected on the changes he’s seen over the past four years, sharing, “I think everyone knows the university is being stretched thin in terms of parking and housing as each new undergraduate class is bigger than the last. Over the past couple years I’ve also noticed a shift in how the university discusses these topics in preparation for a new normal.” Corsini then offers an example, “my freshman year was the first time rooms originally built to be doubles were being used as triples and they were known as converted triples, and the rooms that were originally built as triples were ‘true triples.’ Now, according to Corsini, three years later “converted triples are officially referred to [as] ‘triples’ and true triples are ‘expanded triples.’”
Despite some debate over whether or not the university has the resources for the incoming students, members of the Class of 2029 are looking forward to beginning their college experience. Incoming first-year Caroline Crowley shares, “I feel like applying to Fairfield went smoothly. I can’t wait to be there in the fall!”