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Fairfield University is a Jesuit school of about 5,500 students tucked into Fairfield, Connecticut, a leafy New England town along Long Island Sound. The beach is woven into student life: by senior year, plenty of Stags trade the quad for cottages on Fairfield Beach Road. Downtown clusters around Post Road, where the train station, town green, and public library anchor an easy walk-everywhere stretch. The Sound shapes the rhythm, from morning runs at Jennings Beach to lazy fall afternoons by the water. When the Stags play, the arena fills, and the Metro-North line puts New York City a straight shot down the coast when you want a bigger night out in the city.
Fairfield expects resident undergraduates to live in University housing for all four years, so first-years and sophomores are firmly on campus. First-years are grouped together in halls like Campion, Gonzaga, and Regis. The big shift comes senior year.
Through the off-campus lottery, which runs in October of junior year, seniors can request a release from the residency requirement, and approval is at the University's discretion. That makes the beach houses along Fairfield Beach Road the classic senior move, but it also means demand is fierce and landlords know it. The town keeps a close eye on student rentals, with occupancy rules and rental-permit requirements for beach-area homes.
Read any lease carefully and confirm the place is properly registered, since beach-area homes need rental permits. Expect to sign as a group, put down real money up front, and lock in early, since the best beach spots get claimed fast and rarely sit empty. Leases generally run on an annual cycle to match the academic year.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Fairfield University before signing a lease.
Fairfield's off-campus calendar is unusual because it is tied to the senior lottery. The University runs its off-campus release process in October of junior year, and that is the gun going off. Once students know they are cleared, the scramble for beach houses starts almost immediately, often a full year before move-in. Groups that act in late fall and winter get first pick.
The prime homes along Fairfield Beach Road and Reef Road get locked up by groups in late fall and winter, so if you wait until spring, you are picking through leftovers. Classes start in late August, and leases generally run on an annual cycle to match. Demand peaks right after the October release. The best beach spots rarely sit empty long.
If you miss the early rush, watch for groups that lose a roommate to study abroad and need to fill a spot, and check listings again in spring when plans shift. Subletting over summer is common since many leases run year-round, so a summer-only room is often easier to find than a fall lead. Downtown Fairfield near the train station offers a year-round fallback. Acting quickly when a spot opens still matters.
The senior heartland, with cottages and shared houses steps from the Sound, social and in demand. Lantern Point sits at the tip of the beach scene, tight-knit and the priciest stretch around.
Bridges the beach and town, a bit calmer with a quick walk to the water.
Near the town green and train station, it trades the beach vibe for a walkable, year-round feel and an easy Metro-North commute, while streets off North Benson Road put you within biking distance of class.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
A spot in a shared house near campus or just off the beach usually runs about $900-$1,500/month per person. Streets near North Benson Road and the calmer parts of Reef Road sit at the lower end, while the marquee Fairfield Beach Road and Lantern Point houses climb well past that, since those waterfront rentals are some of the most sought-after student spots in the state. The more roommates you split with, the lower your share.