Fairfield University vs. SHU

Should I go to Fairfield University or Sacred Heart University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Fairfield University or SHU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Fairfield University vs. Sacred Heart University comparison
Fairfield University Sacred Heart University College 3 College 4
Fairfield University Sacred Heart University
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Overview

Fairfield University SHU
Location Fairfield, CT Fairfield, CT
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,019 10,721
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #138
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu sacredheart.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University SHU
Tuition (In State) $53,630 $46,310
Tuition (Out of State) $53,630 $46,310
Room & Board $16,750 $17,520
Avg Net Price $46,065 $45,280
Avg Grant Aid $25,279 $19,484
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 99%

Admission

Fairfield University SHU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,359 13,316
Admitted 6,971 8,750
Acceptance Rate 52.2% 65.7%
Enrolled % 19.1% 20.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.55
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 28/31
SAT Range 1240/1370
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Fairfield University SHU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Business (36%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University SHU
Graduation Rate 82% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $59,700
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $258

Diversity

Fairfield University SHU
% Men 41% 35%
% Women 59% 65%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 71%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 7% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 8% 12%

Students

Fairfield University SHU
% In-State 15% 23%
% Out-of-State 84% 75%

Campus

Fairfield University SHU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Sacred Heart University is larger than than Fairfield University based on total student enrollment (10,721 students vs. 6,019 students)

Fairfield University vs. SHU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or SHU?

  • Fairfield University is 15.8% more expensive to attend than SHU for in-state tuition ($53,630.00 vs. $46,310.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.8% higher at Fairfield University than Sacred Heart University ($53,630.00 vs. $46,310.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sacred Heart University than Fairfield University ($45,280 vs. $46,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairfield University are 4.6% lower than costs at Sacred Heart University ($16,750 vs. $17,520)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sacred Heart University than Fairfield University (99% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fairfield University students is 29.7% larger than aid received Sacred Heart University ($25,279 vs. $19,484)

Fairfield University vs. SHU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fairfield University or SHU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SHU or Fairfield University .

  • Accepted freshman Fairfield University students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at SHU (3.55)
  • SHU has a higher acceptance rate (65.7%) than Fairfield University (52.2%)

Fairfield University vs. SHU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fairfield University or SHU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SHU and Fairfield University.

  • The graduation rate at Fairfield University is higher than Sacred Heart University (82% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $17,400 more per year than SHU graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $59,700)
  • Sacred Heart University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Fairfield University graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • SHU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Fairfield University graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More Fairfield University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SHU students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 76%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/