Head-to-Head Comparison
Fairfield University vs Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- Fairfield Wins
- 14
- Tied
- 11
- Massachusetts Pharmacy Wins
- 19
Direct Answer
For overall financial value, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences offers a significantly safer investment tier. While Fairfield University achieves a higher graduation rate (84% vs 63%), its annual cost of attendance sits at $48,095 compared to Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's $39,545 for in-state paths. For students prioritizing lower student debt over initial institution prestige, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's lower price point delivers a highly efficient debt-to-earnings path.
44 data points compared · Sources: College Scorecard, Opportunity Insights, Times Higher Education, IPEDS
When to Pick Each School
Fairfield
- Higher grad rate: 84% of students finish, the higher completion rate of the pair
- More selective: Admits 33% of applicants, which makes for a more competitive peer group
Massachusetts Pharmacy
- Higher earnings: Median earnings of $125,557 ten years after enrollment, 41% more than Fairfield University
- Lower cost: Average net price of $39,545, roughly $8,550 a year less
- Less debt: Median debt of $25,000, the lower of the two
The Actual Decision
What are you really choosing between?
Fairfield graduates concentrate in Business & Marketing (41% of degrees); Massachusetts Pharmacy in Health Professions (93%). If you already know the field you want, the choice is mostly made for you.
Based on each school's share of degrees by field (College Scorecard). It shows where graduates actually concentrate, not the only path a school offers.
Which School Fits You?
Pick Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences over Fairfield University. Median earnings of $125,557 ten years after enrollment vs $88,794.
Pick Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences over Fairfield University. Net price $39,545 vs $48,095.
Pick Fairfield University over Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. 84% completion rate vs 63%.
Key Metrics at a Glance
Graduation Rate
Earnings (10yr)
Avg Net Price
Median Debt
The Analysis
Verdict
Fairfield University and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences are close on paper, but Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences wins the head-to-head, leading on 3 of the core measures (selectivity, cost, earnings, completion, mobility, and debt). The right pick still depends on how you weight them.
Getting in
Fairfield University is the harder admit. It takes 33% of applicants, while Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences takes 85%. Its entering class also posts the higher average SAT, 1,335 to 1,269.
So what: If test scores and a high-scoring peer group matter to you, Fairfield University sets the higher bar. The less selective school is easier to get into, which can work in your favor rather than against it.
What it costs
On price, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences comes out ahead. Its average net price after aid is $39,545, about $8,550 a year below Fairfield University's $48,095. Graduates of Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences also borrow less: median debt of $25,000, against $26,000.
So what: Over four years, the gap adds up to about $34,200 before any change in aid. Choosing Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences leaves that money available for graduate school, savings, or simply less borrowing.
What graduates earn
Ten years after enrollment, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates report median earnings of $125,557, compared with $88,794 at Fairfield University. That is a 41% advantage. Set against borrowing, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has the lower debt-to-earnings ratio, 0.2x to 0.29x.
So what: An earnings gap of 41% this early in a career tends to widen, since raises build on the higher base. Of the measures on this page, this one carries the most financial weight.
Finishing the degree
Fairfield University graduates a larger share of its students, 84% versus 63%. More of its students stay on track to a degree.
So what: A completion gap of 21% is a risk measure. Students at the school with the lower rate face higher odds of leaving with debt and no degree, the most expensive outcome in higher education.
Recommendation
Bottom line: pick Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences to keep costs and debt down.
Data certainty: High. Both schools report 5 of 6 core signals used here; where one school is missing a figure, that row is left out of the comparison rather than estimated.
Counterintuitive Insights
Their academic identities diverge. Fairfield University concentrates enrollment in Business & Marketing, Communications, while Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences leans toward Biology & Biomedical, Psychology. That split shapes which recruiters come to campus and what your classmates study.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Cost-conscious students: net price of $48,095 runs well above Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's $39,545.
- Students who want a smaller campus: Fairfield University's enrollment of 5,373 far exceeds Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences's 3,451.
- Business and consulting-track students: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has less business program depth, and Fairfield University offers the stronger options.
Full Data Breakdown
Overview 5 metrics
Admissions 4 metrics
Cost & Financial Aid 9 metrics
Academics 5 metrics
Student Body 6 metrics
Outcomes 6 metrics
Social Mobility (Chetty) 4 metrics
Social Capital 3 metrics
Online Education (IPEDS) 2 metrics
The Overviews
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT · Private nonprofit
Fairfield University has an impressive graduation rate of 84%, indicating that most students successfully complete their degrees. This high rate suggests a strong support system and engaged faculty, which helps students navigate their academic journey.
According to Opportunity Insights data, Fairfield's graduates earn a median income of $88,794 ten years after enrollment. This figure points to the university’s effectiveness in preparing students for the job market, particularly in fields like Business, Health Professions, and Communications. While the Pell Grant rate stands at 7%, indicating limited access for low-income students, the potential for upward mobility remains significant for those who do enroll.
The cost of attending Fairfield is notable, with a net price of $48,095 and a median debt of $26,000. Students who thrive here are often those pursuing careers in high-demand sectors, leveraging the university's strong programs in Business and Health Professions. Graduates leave with solid earning potential, which helps to mitigate the financial burden of their education.
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit
A full data profile for Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences — outcomes, cost, and admissions — is on its profile page.
Rankings They Appear On
Fairfield University is featured on the Best Business Colleges in Connecticut ranking.
Top Degree Programs
Fairfield's top program is Business Administration (41% of enrollment), while Massachusetts Pharmacy leads with Nursing (BSN) (93%).
Massachusetts Pharmacy
Career Pathways
Program strengths at these schools feed into careers like Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant (for Fairfield) and Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant (for Massachusetts Pharmacy).
The two schools feed different job markets. Fairfield University is strongest in Business & Marketing, Communications, while Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences concentrates in Biology & Biomedical, Physical Sciences. Those concentrations determine which recruiters show up on campus and where alumni cluster by industry. Match the school's program strengths to the field you plan to enter.
Fairfield
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it harder to get into Fairfield University or Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?
Fairfield University is harder to get into, admitting 33% of applicants compared with 85% at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Which is more affordable, Fairfield University or Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is more affordable, with an average net price of $39,545 after aid versus $48,095 at Fairfield University.
Do Fairfield University or Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates earn more?
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates earn more: median earnings of $125,557 ten years after enrollment, versus $88,794 at Fairfield University.
Which has a better graduation rate, Fairfield University or Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?
Fairfield University has the higher graduation rate, 84% versus 63%.
Should you choose Fairfield University or Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?
It depends on what you weigh most. Choose Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences if affordability and lower debt come first; choose Fairfield University if you want the more selective, higher-stats peer group. The two schools win on different measures, so the better fit is the one whose strengths match your priorities.
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Best Colleges in America
How do Fairfield and Massachusetts Pharmacy stack up against regional and national alternatives when evaluated on pure socioeconomic mobility, graduate earnings, and long-term return on investment? Explore the full, verified dataset on our comprehensive rankings directory.
