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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 | Catholic University of America | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
SHU | Catholic University of America | ||
| Location | Fairfield, CT | Washington, DC | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 11,179 | 5,171 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | sacredheart.edu | cua.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
SHU | Catholic University of America | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $48,160 | $54,630 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $48,160 | $54,630 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,450 | $17,370 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $46,165 | $35,008 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,597 | $38,232 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 99% |
Admission |
SHU | Catholic University of America | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 14,284 | 5,874 | ||
| Admitted | 9,667 | 4,925 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 67.7% | 83.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.7% | 17.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.55 | 3.52 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
SHU | Catholic University of America | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
SHU | Catholic University of America | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,700 | $58,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 76% | 77% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $26,106 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $269 |
Diversity |
SHU | Catholic University of America | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 20% | ||
| % Women | 23% | 19% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 64% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 13% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 5% | ||
| % International | 1% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 12% | 4% |
Students |
SHU | Catholic University of America | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 22% | 5% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 77% | 87% | ||
Campus |
SHU | Catholic University of America | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Sacred Heart University is larger than than Catholic University of America based on total student enrollment (11,179 students vs. 5,171 students)
SHU vs. Catholic University of America Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, SHU or Catholic University of America?
- Catholic University of America is 13.4% more expensive to attend than SHU for in-state tuition ($54,630.00 vs. $48,160.00)
- Out of state tuition is 13.4% higher at Catholic University of America than Sacred Heart University ($54,630.00 vs. $48,160.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Catholic University of America than SHU ($35,008 vs. $46,165)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catholic University of America are 6.2% lower than costs at Sacred Heart University ($17,370 vs. $18,450)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Sacred Heart University as Catholic University of America (99% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Catholic University of America students is 85.6% larger than aid received Sacred Heart University ($38,232 vs. $20,597)
SHU vs. Catholic University of America Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, SHU or Catholic University of America? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Catholic University of America or SHU .
- Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Catholic University of America (3.52)
- Catholic University of America has a higher acceptance rate (83.8%) than SHU (67.7%)
SHU vs. Catholic University of America Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, SHU or Catholic University of America? 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 Catholic University of America and SHU.
- The graduation rate at SHU is the same as at Catholic University of America (68% vs. 68%)
- Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn on average $1,100 more per year than Catholic University of America graduates after ten years. ($59,700 vs. $58,600)
- Sacred Heart University students graduate with a $1,106 lower median federal student loan debt than Catholic University of America graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,106)
- SHU graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Catholic University of America graduates. ($258 vs. $269)
- More Catholic University of America graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SHU students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 76%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/