The Wall Street Journal and College Pulse, in collaboration with the independent market research firm Statista recognized Fairfield University as one of America's Best Colleges 2024. At No. 124, Fairfield rose 66 spots this year, from No. 190 in the Wall Street Journal’s 2022 college ranking.

The final ranking of the top colleges by WSJ/College Pulse was based on two “pillars”—Student and Alumni Surveys, and Student Outcome Metrics.

The WSJ/College Pulse Salary Impact ranking “lists schools in order of their impact on graduates’ salaries and how this relates to the cost of attending the college.” Fairfield University was ranked No. 48, or in the top 12 percent of the 400 schools included on the list.

Fairfield was second out of institutions ranked in the State of Connecticut for Salary Impact, just behind Yale.

The WSJ/College Pulse 2024 Best Colleges in the U.S. ranking was developed and executed in collaboration with research partners College Pulse and Statista. Using the latest data available for analysis, colleges were scored according to the following components: Student Outcomes (70%), which factors in salary impact compared to similar colleges, years to pay off net price, and graduation rates; Learning Environment (20%), which considers learning opportunities, preparation for career, learning facilities, and recommendation score (the extent to which students would recommend their college based on student surveys); and Diversity (10%), which includes opportunities to interact with students from different backgrounds, ethnic diversity, inclusion of students with lower family earnings, and international diversity.

According to the methodology breakdown, “College Pulse conducted a survey of 60,953 students and alumni online, between January and May 2023.” Further information on how College Pulse collects data is available on its methodology page.