Biology at Fairfield University

Fairfield's biology program sits in an awkward middle ground for Connecticut—its estimated first-year earnings of $37,450 match the state median but trail peer institutions like Trinity ($52,179) and Quinnipiac ($44,657) by significant margins. While $26,290 in debt isn't catastrophic, especially with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70, it's worth noting that similar Connecticut biology programs produce this earning pattern at comparable debt levels. The jump to $69,349 by year four suggests strong mid-career trajectory, but that initial earnings gap matters when you're facing loan payments from day one.

What complicates the picture is that we're working with estimated figures for that crucial first year—the actual outcomes for Fairfield's biology graduates may differ meaningfully from the state median. The modest 7% Pell grant population and 1323 average SAT suggest this serves relatively affluent students who may have family support to bridge those early years. For families counting on immediate earning power to justify the investment, comparable Connecticut programs show a wide range: some graduates start near $40,000, others near $52,000.

The practical question is whether Fairfield's network and reputation justify paying similar debt for potentially lower starting earnings than nearby competitors. If graduate school is the plan, that first-year number matters less. If your child needs to earn immediately, push the admissions office hard for their actual placement data—where biology graduates land and what they actually earn.