Charter Oak State College vs. SHU

Comparable Facts

Compare Charter Oak State College in New Britain, CT with Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than Charter Oak State College based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 2,012 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Charter Oak State College is located in New Britain, CT (Large Suburban setting); Sacred Heart University is in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting).
• Charter Oak State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Charter Oak State College 15:1; Sacred Heart University 15:1.

Charter Oak State College vs. SHU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Charter Oak State College or SHU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Charter Oak State College than SHU ($15,815 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Charter Oak State College are 61.3% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($7,400 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 492.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Charter Oak State College (about $41,898 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $8,506.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 492.6% higher at SHU than at Charter Oak State College (about $41,898 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $8,506.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at Charter Oak State College (99% vs. 50%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 192.4% larger than aid received by Charter Oak State College students ($21,625 vs. $7,395).

Charter Oak State College vs. SHU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Charter Oak State College or SHU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SHU and Charter Oak State College.

• Charter Oak State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Charter Oak State College - Open admission; SHU - Test-free.

Charter Oak State College vs. SHU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Charter Oak State College and SHU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $15,000 more per year than Charter Oak State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $44,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Charter Oak State College graduates have a $7,875 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($17,125 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Charter Oak State College graduates have an estimated $81 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHU graduates ($177 vs. $258).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Charter Oak State College students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.