More students from around the globe are choosing to apply to Stagcountry. This year, Fairfield University received the largest number of applicants for the class of 2023.

There were 12,200 applications received; the amount of applications received for the class of 2023 has increased eight percent from the class of 2022’s amount, which was approximately 11,400. Of these applications, about 42 percent were for the College of Arts and Sciences, 30 percent for the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, 19 percent for the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies and 9 percent for the School of Engineering.

The University’s acceptance rate is expected to slightly decline this year due to the high volume of applications.

In past years, the majority of the University’s applicants have come from the tri-state area – Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. Applications for the class of 2023 have come from 43 states across the country. In addition to this, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions has seen applications from 68 countries. The University expects to see more geographic diversity represented on campus as a result.

Alison Hildenbrand, director of undergraduate admissions, went into detail regarding what the large number of applicants from various different places means for the University.

“The demographics of the United States have been shifting for the past few years, and the number of high school aged students in the Northeast is declining. Because of these demographic shifts, we’ve been working for years to expand Fairfield’s presence and reach,” Hildenbrand explained. “We have seen some growth in the number of applicants from international students, and we are excited about the opportunity to shape our community in a way that better reflects the population of the world.”

Students are also excited about the increase in applicants, but would like admissions to keep in mind the charm of a small school. “A larger applicant pool implies that Fairfield’s reputation as a prestigious school is growing,” says Park Lytle ’21. “But, it also means Fairfield will need to start expanding its budget in order to keep low class sizes and more intimate student interactions, which is one of the key factors that makes this school desirable.”

Some students believe smaller class sizes allow them to learn better and retain more information. “The reason I chose Fairfield was because I liked the small size of the school,” Michael Pepe ‘22 recalled. “The best way to learn is through conversation. If it’s a big lecture it won’t work for me, I remember through conversation.”

 

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