Transfer Students

To complete a transfer application, students must submit all required materials by the appropriate deadline: November 15 for spring semester entry or April 1 for fall semester entry. Fairfield accepts transfer applications for both fall and spring admission.

• Common Application for Transfer Students
• $65 Non-refundable Application Fee: If you are a veteran or have previously applied to Fairfield, you can email transferadmis@fairfield.edu for a fee waiver
• Official High School Transcript: If you have previously applied to Fairfield University, please ensure we have received a transcript that includes your final grades. Official transcripts can be sent directly to Fairfield University from the high school by mail or by email to transferadmis@fairfield.edu. Alternately, official transcripts can be received through the Common Application if submitted directly from the high school to Common Application.
• Official College Transcript from All Universities Attended (whether or not credit was earned)
• Midterm Grade Progress Report (Optional)
• Dean of Students Certification Form: The Common Application provides forms similar to our Dean of Students Certification Form. Please complete either form.
• ACT or SAT Standardized Test Scores: Please note that Fairfield University has a test-optional policy for domestic students. International students and home-schooled students are required to submit test scores.

Please send all required documents to:
Office of Undergraduate Admission
Fairfield University
1073 North Benson Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
transferadmis@fairfield.edu

Students who applied to Fairfield University as first-year students, but were denied admission, are required to complete one full year of college course work in a full-time status elsewhere, before reapplying as a transfer student.

A minimum cumulative GPA of a 2.5/4.0 is required for students interested in the Meditz College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering & Computing, the Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies (for public health ONLY), and the School of Education and Human Development. Students interested in transferring into the Charles F. Dolan School of Business must have maintained at least a 2.8/4.0 cumulative GPA.

Please note that Fairfield University does not currently accept transfer students into the Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies’ undergraduate nursing program.

To merit a Fairfield University degree, at least 60 credits must be taken at Fairfield. This includes the last 30 semester credits immediately preceding graduation that must be earned at Fairfield University.

Transfer students with international academic credentials must have their documents translated (if not in English) and evaluated. Please refer to our international students page for more information.

If you have questions about the transfer application process, please contact transferadmis@fairfield.edu.

Additional information regarding visit opportunities for transfer students can be found on our visit page. 

Applicants should be aware of the following criteria regarding transfer credits.

• Courses with a grade of less than "C" will not be accepted for transfer credit.
  • Credit will only be granted for specific work completed at institutions whose quality has been approved by the University.
• Only credit hours will be accepted for credit. The actual grades will not transfer.
• Courses that are 10 years or older cannot be transferred to fulfill major requirements for graduation.
• Students entering Fairfield University may be eligible to receive college credit for work previously completed in high school through advanced placement exams, international baccalaureate courses, or college courses completed while in high school. These courses will be evaluated upon enrollment and not as a part of the admission process.
• Fairfield University has a residency requirement for transferring students. As a result, students must spend four semesters in the full-time day program and complete a minimum of 60 credit hours at Fairfield University in order to be eligible for the degree.
• Transfer students with international academic credentials must have their documents translated (if not in English) and evaluated. Please refer to our international students page for more information.

Fairfield University offers transfer admission for both spring and fall entry. For spring transfer admission, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all required materials by the November 15 deadline. Fairfield also offers fall transfer admission, with an application deadline of April 1. Meeting the deadlines allows for full consideration for scholarships, financial aid, and housing.

Students applying for spring transfer admission should submit their materials by the November 15 deadline. Application review for spring entry typically takes place in November, and admission decisions are made on a rolling basis. In most cases, applicants can expect to receive a decision within a few weeks of their application being complete. 

For fall semester entry, transfer applicants should submit their materials by the April 1 deadline. Review of fall transfer applications typically begins in March, and applicants are generally notified of their admission decision by mid-May. 

If you previously applied to Fairfield University as a first-year or transfer applicant, you will still need to submit a new transfer application. Fairfield will waive the application fee for students who have previously applied. Contact transferadmis@fairfield.edu to request a fee waiver code before applying to confirm which documents are required.

The required recommendation is the dean of students form. You may also submit additional recommendations from individuals who can speak meaningfully about your academic performance, character, or readiness to succeed at Fairfield. Your personal statement should address your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve, in keeping with the Common Application prompt.

Midterm grades are optional, but the admission committee appreciates receiving them because they provide a helpful view of your current academic progress. The Midterm Grade Progress Report form is available on Fairfield’s website and through the Common Application. If you are not able to meet with faculty in person, you may ask them by email to provide current grade estimates, compile those responses into one document, and send them to transferadmis@fairfield.edu.

Fairfield makes every effort to transfer credits that appropriately fit the curricula offered by the University. Only courses worth three credit hours or more, or the equivalent at institutions with different credit policies, and completed with a grade of C or better will be considered for transfer credit. Admitted students receive a preliminary credit evaluation at the time of admission and finalize their credits with their academic dean during the enrollment process. Students must complete a minimum of 60 credits at Fairfield University to earn an undergraduate degree.

A final transfer credit evaluation is completed and available after admission. Fairfield cannot confirm in advance exactly which credits will transfer. Before applying, you may compare course descriptions from your current institution’s catalog with Fairfield University’s online course catalog to see whether your courses appear to align with Fairfield offerings.

Your graduation timeline depends on how many credits are formally approved for transfer and which degree program you choose to pursue. If not all credits transfer, you may have opportunities to catch up through winter or summer courses at Fairfield University or by taking additional courses during the academic year.

All transfer applicants are encouraged to apply for financial aid. To be considered, you must submit both the FAFSA and CSS Profile for the appropriate aid year. Fairfield University’s FAFSA school code is 001385, and its CSS Profile school code is 3390. If you already submitted these forms to another institution for the current aid year, log back into your accounts and request that they also be sent to Fairfield University.

Fairfield University offers a limited number of merit awards to admitted transfer students. Recipients are notified at the time of admission.

On-campus housing is not guaranteed for transfer students, but Fairfield accepts housing requests and makes every effort to accommodate students on campus. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to students who meet the application deadlines.

The Office of Undergraduate Admission offers regularly scheduled campus visits during select times of the year. Visit fairfield.edu/visit or call 203-254-4100 for current opportunities. You may also email transferadmis@fairfield.edu to schedule an in-person or virtual meeting with a transfer admission counselor.

Enrollment information is provided at the time of admission. After submitting your enrollment deposit, you will meet with your academic dean to discuss your final transfer credit evaluation and the registration process for your upcoming semester.

Yes. Transfer students are offered a one-day orientation just before the start of their enrolling semester, providing an opportunity to meet staff and other students and become familiar with campus resources. After enrollment, students may contact orientation@fairfield.edu with additional orientation questions. Transfer students also have access to academic support through their dean’s office, study skills sessions, subject-specific tutoring, the Math Center, the Writing Center, career development staff assigned to each undergraduate division, and the Office of Accessibility for reasonable academic and campus life accommodations. Transfer students are also registered for Transfer First Year Experience, or TEX, a first-semester course supported by professional staff and current student mentors. TEX is designed to help students CONNECT with one another, faculty, staff, and the University; INSPIRE excellence during the transition; and THRIVE holistically as members of the Fairfield University community.