CCU vs. SHU

Deciding between Colorado Christian University and Sacred Heart University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Colorado Christian University
Sacred Heart University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CCU Lakewood, CO
  • SHU Fairfield, CT
  • Setting
  • CCU Large Suburban
  • SHU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • CCU 9,951
  • SHU 11,022
  • Type
  • CCU Private 4 Year
  • SHU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CCU
  • SHU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CCU Undenominational
  • SHU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • CCU Non-profit
  • SHU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CCU
  • SHU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CCU $41,342
  • SHU $50,404
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CCU $41,342
  • SHU $50,404
  • Room & Board
  • CCU $13,234
  • SHU $19,140
  • Average Net Price
  • CCU $30,940
  • SHU $47,848
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CCU $23,302
  • SHU $21,625
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CCU 100%
  • SHU 99%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CCU -
  • SHU 16,495
  • Admitted
  • CCU -
  • SHU 10,781
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CCU
  • SHU 65.4%
  • Enrolled
  • CCU
  • SHU 17.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CCU
  • SHU
  • Typical ACT score
  • CCU
  • SHU
  • Average High School GPA
  • CCU 3.84
  • SHU 3.55
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CCU A-
  • SHU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • CCU Unavailable
  • SHU Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • CCU
  • SHU Low
  • ACT Range
  • CCU
  • SHU
  • SAT Range
  • CCU
  • SHU
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CCU Not reported
  • SHU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • CCU Aug 1, 2027
  • SHU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CCU 17:1
  • SHU 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CCU
    • Business (48%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (13%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)
    • General Studies (3%)
  • SHU
    • Business (36%)
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CCU 42%
  • SHU 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CCU $41,600
  • SHU $59,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CCU 50%
  • SHU 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CCU $25,000
  • SHU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CCU $258
  • SHU $258
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CCU 33%
  • SHU 36%
  • % Women
  • CCU 67%
  • SHU 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CCU Medium
  • SHU Low
  • HBCU
  • CCU No
  • SHU No
  • % White
  • CCU 67%
  • SHU 71%
  • % Asian
  • CCU 1%
  • SHU 2%
  • % Black
  • CCU 11%
  • SHU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • CCU 13%
  • SHU 8%
  • % Native American
  • CCU 1%
  • SHU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CCU 0%
  • SHU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CCU 4%
  • SHU 2%
  • % International
  • CCU 0%
  • SHU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CCU 3%
  • SHU 12%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CCU 28%
  • SHU 23%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CCU 72%
  • SHU 76%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CCU Yes
  • SHU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CCU No
  • SHU No
  • Meal Plan
  • CCU Yes
  • SHU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CCU Yes
  • SHU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • CCU No
  • SHU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, CO 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 CCU based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 9,951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colorado Christian University is located in Lakewood, CO (Large Suburban setting); Sacred Heart University is in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting).
  • Colorado Christian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colorado Christian University 17:1; Sacred Heart University 15:1.

CCU vs. SHU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CCU 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 Colorado Christian University than SHU ($30,940 vs. $47,848).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colorado Christian University are 30.9% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($13,234 vs. $19,140).
  • Sacred Heart University is 21.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than CCU (about $9,062 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $41,342.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.9% higher at SHU than at Colorado Christian University (about $9,062 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $41,342.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Colorado Christian University than at Sacred Heart University (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado Christian University students is 7.8% larger than aid received by Sacred Heart University students ($23,302 vs. $21,625).

CCU vs. SHU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CCU 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 CCU.

  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CCU - Not reported; SHU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CCU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CCU students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at SHU (3.55).

CCU vs. SHU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CCU 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).

  • Sacred Heart University's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Colorado Christian University's (42%).
  • Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $18,100 more per year than CCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Sacred Heart University and CCU graduates have the same median loan debt ($25,000 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Sacred Heart University and CCU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($258 vs. $258).
  • More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CCU students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 50%)

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.