SHU vs. CHC

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than CHC based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 1,288 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Chestnut Hill College is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Chestnut Hill College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Chestnut Hill College 10:1.

SHU vs. CHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or CHC? 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 Chestnut Hill College than SHU ($28,588 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chestnut Hill College are 34.2% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($12,600 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 26.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CHC (about $10,534 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $39,870.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.4% higher at SHU than at Chestnut Hill College (about $10,534 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $39,870.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chestnut Hill College than at Sacred Heart University (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Chestnut Hill College students is 36.8% larger than aid received by Sacred Heart University students ($29,590 vs. $21,625).

SHU vs. CHC Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsChestnut Hill College 900/1090.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; CHC - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at CHC (3.12).
• CHC has a higher acceptance rate (74.5%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 7.2% at CHC.

SHU vs. CHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and CHC? 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 Chestnut Hill College's (44%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $14,400 more per year than CHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $45,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sacred Heart University graduates have a $1,481 lower median loan debt than CHC graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,481).
• Among borrowers, SHU graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CHC graduates ($258 vs. $273).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CHC students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 47%)

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.