Quinnipiac vs. SHU

Comparable Facts

Compare Quinnipiac University in Hamden, 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 Quinnipiac based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 9,424 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Quinnipiac University is located in Hamden, CT (Large Suburban setting); Sacred Heart University is in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting).
• Quinnipiac University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Quinnipiac University 12:1; Sacred Heart University 15:1.

Quinnipiac vs. SHU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Quinnipiac 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 Quinnipiac University than SHU ($40,632 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Quinnipiac University are 9.8% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($17,260 vs. $19,140).
• Quinnipiac University is 10.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SHU (about $5,076 more per year; $55,480.00 vs. $50,404.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.1% higher at Quinnipiac than at Sacred Heart University (about $5,076 more per year; $55,480.00 vs. $50,404.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Quinnipiac University than at Sacred Heart University (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Quinnipiac University students is 46% larger than aid received by Sacred Heart University students ($31,568 vs. $21,625).

Quinnipiac vs. SHU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Quinnipiac 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 Quinnipiac.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Quinnipiac University 1150/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Quinnipiac University 25/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Quinnipiac - Test optional; SHU - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Quinnipiac Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Quinnipiac (3.39).
• Quinnipiac has a higher acceptance rate (72.2%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.1% at Quinnipiac vs. 17.5% at SHU.

Quinnipiac vs. SHU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Quinnipiac 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).

• Quinnipiac University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Sacred Heart University's (68%).
• Graduates from Quinnipiac University earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than SHU graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,500 vs. $59,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sacred Heart University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Quinnipiac graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, SHU graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Quinnipiac graduates ($258 vs. $268).
• More Quinnipiac 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.