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ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ has again achieved high marks in the latest national college rankings report released today by U.S. News and World Report . ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ was named #3 in the Best Regional University North category in the "Best Colleges 2014” rankings. This is the 23rd consecutive year U.S. News & World Report has ranked ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ in the top four among universities in the North with master's degree programs. Fairfield also earned a high mark for the area of “ Strong Commitment to Teaching ,” ranking fourth in the regional listings.

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ is the only university in Connecticut in the top 10 of the regional rankings. The North region includes universities in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.

Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J., senior vice president for academic affairs at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´, said, "I am once again pleased to see that Fairfield remains a terrific value and that our peers continue to hold ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ in high esteem, based especially on our passionate commitment to student learning.”

The U.S. News ranking system uses quantitative measures in applying its formula, and “it's based on widely accepted indicators of excellence,” according to its website, which also notes, “The rankings allow you to compare at a glance the relative quality of institutions based on such widely accepted indicators of excellence as freshman retention, graduation rates, and the strength of the faculty.”

In the 2014, U.S. News publication, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ increased its score in the peer assessment category and was ranked 4 ^th in the North region for schools where the faculty has an unusually strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.  This year, Fairfield continued to achieve high marks in the areas of freshman retention rate (88%), four-year graduation rate (81%), and student faculty ratio (11/1).  Fairfield was also among schools selected for the category of “A-Plus Schools for B Students,” described in the publication as schools identified “that seek a broad, engaged student body and where non-superstars have a decent shot at being accepted and thriving.”

Father Fitzgerald said, “Every one of our degree programs is designed and delivered in ways that promote intellectual excellence, integrative ways of thinking and doing, and a sense of civic engagement and social responsibility. Our faculty members are teaching scholars who impart their own love of lifelong learning to their students, who then go on to lead amazing lives of personal and professional accomplishment and generous service to the common good."

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ is also recognized by other national ranking organizations including:

• Bloomberg Businessweek puts Fairfield second - behind Yale University - and tied with Wesleyan University and Trinity College as “Best Undergraduate ROI: Connecticut.”
• AC Online : Highest Return on Investment Colleges in Connecticut” surveyed 108 colleges and ranked Fairfield third, following only Yale University and the University of Connecticut, in schools that provided students the biggest return on investment.
• Bloomberg Businessweek ranked the Charles F. Dolan School of Business among its top 100 undergraduate business schools in the nation.
• The Princeton Review named the Dolan School of Business School among the best graduate business programs in the U.S.
• Forbes listing of America’s Top Colleges puts ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ÊÓƵÎÞÏÞÖƹۿ´ in the top 100 in the Northeast at #83.