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Fairfield University Marist College Quinnipiac University of Bridgeport RIC Siena College Loyola University Maryland Salve Regina University UConn Stonehill College University of Connecticut-Avery Point Bryant University| Sacred Heart University | American International College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
SHU | AIC | ||
| Location | Fairfield, CT | Springfield, MA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 11,179 | 2,142 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #983 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | sacredheart.edu | aic.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
SHU | AIC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $48,160 | $41,970 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $48,160 | $41,970 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,450 | $16,260 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $46,165 | $21,454 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,597 | $34,009 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 98% |
Admission |
SHU | AIC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 14,284 | 2,258 | ||
| Admitted | 9,667 | 2,188 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 67.7% | 96.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.7% | 12.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.55 | 2.91 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | 940/1110 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Sep 7, 2025 |
Academics |
SHU | AIC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
SHU | AIC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 36% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,700 | $46,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 76% | 49% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $279 |
Diversity |
SHU | AIC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 10% | ||
| % Women | 23% | 28% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 39% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 25% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 14% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 12% | 14% |
Students |
SHU | AIC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 22% | 48% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 77% | 47% | ||
Campus |
SHU | AIC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Sacred Heart University is larger than than AIC based on total student enrollment (11,179 students vs. 2,142 students)
SHU vs. AIC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, SHU or AIC?
- Sacred Heart University is 14.7% more expensive to attend than AIC for in-state tuition ($48,160.00 vs. $41,970.00)
- Out of state tuition is 14.7% higher at SHU than American International College ($48,160.00 vs. $41,970.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American International College than SHU ($21,454 vs. $46,165)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American International College are 13.5% lower than costs at Sacred Heart University ($16,260 vs. $18,450)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Sacred Heart University than American International College (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by American International College students is 65.1% larger than aid received Sacred Heart University ($34,009 vs. $20,597)
SHU vs. AIC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, SHU or AIC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between AIC or SHU .
- 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 (96.9%) than SHU (67.7%)
SHU vs. AIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, SHU or AIC? 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 AIC and SHU.
- The graduation rate at SHU is higher than American International College (68% vs. 36%)
- Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn on average $13,300 more per year than AIC graduates after ten years. ($59,700 vs. $46,400)
- Sacred Heart University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than AIC graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
- SHU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans 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/