Scott M. Shaw, Chief Executive Officer and President | Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton
Scott M. Shaw, Chief Executive Officer and President | Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton
Of the 12 institutions in the county, six provided detailed enrollment data at the time, including Fairfield University, University of Bridgeport and Paier College.
At least 40,185 people applied to Fairfield County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 29,213 students enrolled in the universities, including 21,039 in undergraduate and 8,174 in graduate programs. Only 2.7% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (59.4%) and Hispanic (18.8%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Sacred Heart University stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 10,721 students.
U.S. college enrollment has been in a downward trend since peaking at around 18.1 million students in 2010. Recent increases offered some relief, but experts project a steeper decline in 2025.
This decline is likely due to two main factors. First, the pool of young adults is shrinking as birth rates have fallen nearly 23% between 2007 and 2022. Second, the rising cost of higher education, including skyrocketing student loan debt. A 2023 Wall Street Journal report shows that more than half of Americans think a four-year degree is not worth the cost.
Some educational data is based on estimates. Shifting demographics among student populations can sometimes result in gender totals which do not equal 100%.
| Institution | # of Applicants | # of Admitted Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIGI Hairdressing Academy Newtown | -- | -- | 109 |
| New England Tractor Trailer Training School of CT-Bridgeport | -- | -- | 566 |
| Fairfield University | 13,359 | 6,947 | 6,019 |
| Lincoln Technical Institute-Shelton | -- | -- | 737 |
| Paier College | 110 | 105 | 221 |
| University of Bridgeport | 3,781 | 3,100 | 3,988 |
| Western Connecticut State University | 5,093 | 4,278 | 4,417 |
| University of Connecticut-Stamford | 4,526 | 4,164 | 2,297 |
| Sacred Heart University | 13,316 | 8,789 | 10,721 |
| Branford Academy of Hair & Cosmetology-Bridgeport | -- | -- | 35 |
| Stratford School for Aviation Maintenance Technicians | -- | -- | 27 |
| American Institute of Healthcare & Technology | -- | -- | 76 |
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