SHU vs. Anna Maria College

Comparable Facts

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

Sacred Heart University is larger than Anna Maria College based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 1,202 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Anna Maria College is in Paxton, MA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Anna Maria College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Anna Maria College 12:1.

SHU vs. Anna Maria College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or Anna Maria College? 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 Anna Maria College than SHU ($29,094 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anna Maria College are 6.5% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($17,892 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 13.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Anna Maria College (about $5,833 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $44,571.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.1% higher at SHU than at Anna Maria College (about $5,833 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $44,571.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Anna Maria College than at Sacred Heart University (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Anna Maria College students is 49.8% larger than aid received by Sacred Heart University students ($32,385 vs. $21,625).

SHU vs. Anna Maria College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or Anna Maria College? 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 Anna Maria College and SHU.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; Anna Maria College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.61 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Anna Maria College (2.94).
• SHU has a higher acceptance rate (65.4%) than Anna Maria College (50.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 6.5% at Anna Maria College.

SHU vs. Anna Maria College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and Anna Maria College? 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 Anna Maria College's (49%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $15,100 more per year than Anna Maria College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $44,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Anna Maria College and SHU graduates have the same median loan debt ($25,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Anna Maria College and SHU 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 Anna Maria College students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 59%)

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.