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Finance Becomes FastestGrowing Program at FU A quarter of the graduating class is a finance major By JULIAN NAZARIO Managing Editor New data analyzed by The Mirror shows that during an unprecedented period of growth that the university has overseen during the past five years, the Dolan School of Business finance program has seen the fastest growth among degrees on campus. In March 2026, the finance department had 1,270 students enrolled in the program, a 121% increase from May 2021, when fewer than 600 students were studying finance at Fairfield. The second most popular program after finance is nursing, with 637 students as of the fall 2025 semester. “We do have a strong interest in finance from admitted students,” said Dr. Katsiaryna S. Bardos, finance chair. “Last year, for example, we filled up the Dolan Event space twice in a day for two open house days.” Most of those students, according to Bardos, come to the university because of the program’s outcomes and a desire to study finance at a liberal arts school.
It also helps that the program is highly ranked, with U.S. News & World Report ranking the finance specialty as 14th in the country. The program boasts a 99% placement rate within six months of graduation. According to enrollment data, the more than 1,200 finance majors in Dolan represent a quarter of the university’s graduating class. To support the increased demand in finance, the department is hiring at least four new professors for the upcoming semester. The expansion of the finance department did not happen overnight. Bardos, who joined the university as an assistant professor before the 2008 financial crisis, said that even amid the early 2000s recession, the university was still placing students in financial services jobs. “Since then, I think we have had a stable increase. I don’t think we ever had a year with a decrease in numbers,” she added. “But definitely, it boomed recently.” The recipe for success Fairfield’s promise of small class sizes, its proximity to New York City and high placement
Photo Courtesy of Fairfield University
Fairfield University’s Dolan School of Business has seen a significant rise in Finance majors in the past few years.
rate for internships and job are part of why students come to Fairfield as Dolan students. But the finance department’s ability to stay up to date with the curriculum is another reason why Fairfield is a popular place for finance students, according to Bardos. “We are trying to be at the forefront,” she added. “So another thing we introduced is a FinTech minor. Right now, we are actively discussing how to incorporate AI into our classes.” Additionally, the program has created a
fast-track model for finance students, which allows students who earn an A in their introduction to finance course to take finance classes sooner. Students in the program don’t start taking finance courses until sophomore year. Bardos also highlighted the faculty’s support for student initiatives like the Student Managed Investment Fund and the Student Athlete Investment Fund, both of which provide students with real-world experience.
Admit Rate Drops to 21% for Class of 2030 By OLIVIA MARCEDA Head News Editor
Photo Courtesy of Lauren Von Hassel
Seniors Elia Haghbin and Lauren Von Hassel celebrate their win at the Lockheed Martin Ethics Competition, in Washington, D.C.
Engineering Team Wins First Place At National Lockheed Martin Ethics Competition
By OLIVIA MARCEDA Head News Editor
Two Fairifeld seniors claimed first place at the 2026 Lockheed Martin Ethics in Engineering Case Competition, marking the first time a team from the university has won the national contest. Senior Elia Haghbin, a computer science and biology double major and senior Lauren Von Hassel, a computer science major, competed against teams from 72 different universities in Washington DC on Feb. 26. The competition challenged participants to analyze a rapidly evolving national crisis scenario involving artificial intelligence
governance and national security risks. “In high school, I competed in DECA case competitions and enjoyed working through complex scenarios under time pressure,” Haghbin said. She added that her research focuses on using artificial intelligence in medical
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We weren’t just solving technical problem, every decision had ethical implications as well.” -Lauren Von Hassel ‘26, Computer Science Major
settings where ethical considerations are already central. “After learning more about the competition, I felt it was something I would both enjoy and be well prepared for,” she added. The teams were required to make technical and ethical decisions under tight time constraints while responding to unexpected developments... “The most challenging part was making decisions with limited time and constantly changing information,” said Von Hassel, when describing the challenge of Engineering Team continues on page 4
Fairfield University released its admissions decisions for the Class of 2030 marking another highly competitive year in the school’s application history. With 21,622 applicants from 49 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and 97 countries, the university saw both a broad geographic reach and continued rise in global interest. The admit rate dropped to 21%, continuing a multi-year trend of increasing selectivity as Fairfield attracts a larger and more accomplished applicant pool. Students in the Class of 2030 reported an average weighted GPA of 3.9, with SAT scores in the middle 50 percent ranging from 1320 to 1420 among those who submitted results. This year’s admissions cycle builds on last year’s record-setting surge for the Class of 2029, which saw a 15% increase in applications. Compared to just three years ago, when Fairfield received 15,450 applications, the growth highlights the university’s rising prominence and appeal among prospective students. “I looked at the percentage of people who got jobs after graduation rate and that’s the reason why I chose Fairfield,” said freshman Theresa Kessler. This Saturday is Fairfield in Focus, also known as Admitted Student Day, where prospective students will come in and explore opportunities on campus and learn about student life. Editor’s note: Julian Nazario is a Senior Fellow at the Admissions Office. He did not contribute to this article. More admission stats on page 4