SHU vs. AIC

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with American International College in Springfield, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than AIC based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 2,037 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); American International College is in Springfield, MA (Midsize City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. American International College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; American International College 16:1.

SHU vs. AIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or AIC? 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 American International College than SHU ($23,086 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American International College are 12.5% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($16,750 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 14% more expensive for in-state tuition than AIC (about $6,174 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $44,230.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14% higher at SHU than at American International College (about $6,174 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $44,230.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at American International College than at Sacred Heart University (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by American International College students is 67.3% larger than aid received by Sacred Heart University students ($36,184 vs. $21,625).

SHU vs. AIC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or AIC? 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 AIC and SHU.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsAmerican International College 940/1110.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; AIC - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: AIC Sep 7, 2026.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.64 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at AIC (2.91).
• AIC has a higher acceptance rate (99.6%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 11.2% at AIC.

SHU vs. AIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and AIC? 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 American International College's (36%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $13,300 more per year than AIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sacred Heart University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than AIC graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, SHU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AIC graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AIC students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 49%)

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.