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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 | College of the Atlantic | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
SHU | College of the Atlantic | ||
| Location | Fairfield, CT | Bar Harbor, ME | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 11,179 | 367 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | sacredheart.edu | coa.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
SHU | College of the Atlantic | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $48,160 | $45,630 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $48,160 | $45,630 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,450 | $10,101 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $46,165 | $22,692 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,597 | $33,884 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 98% |
Admission |
SHU | College of the Atlantic | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 14,284 | 446 | ||
| Admitted | 9,667 | 290 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 67.7% | 65% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.7% | 27.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.55 | 3.69 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | 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 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
SHU | College of the Atlantic | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
SHU | College of the Atlantic | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 71% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,700 | $28,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 76% | 75% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $19,750 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $204 |
Diversity |
SHU | College of the Atlantic | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 1% | ||
| % Women | 23% | 1% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 1% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 17% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 12% | 1% |
Students |
SHU | College of the Atlantic | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 22% | 4% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 77% | 73% | ||
Campus |
SHU | College of the Atlantic | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| 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 College of the Atlantic based on total student enrollment (11,179 students vs. 367 students)
SHU vs. College of the Atlantic Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, SHU or College of the Atlantic?
- Sacred Heart University is 5.5% more expensive to attend than College of the Atlantic for in-state tuition ($48,160.00 vs. $45,630.00)
- Out of state tuition is 5.5% higher at SHU than College of the Atlantic ($48,160.00 vs. $45,630.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of the Atlantic than SHU ($22,692 vs. $46,165)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Atlantic are 82.7% lower than costs at Sacred Heart University ($10,101 vs. $18,450)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Sacred Heart University than College of the Atlantic (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Atlantic students is 64.5% larger than aid received Sacred Heart University ($33,884 vs. $20,597)
SHU vs. College of the Atlantic Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, SHU or College of the Atlantic? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between College of the Atlantic or SHU .
- Accepted freshman College of the Atlantic students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at SHU (3.55)
- SHU has a higher acceptance rate (67.7%) than College of the Atlantic (65%)
SHU vs. College of the Atlantic Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, SHU or College of the Atlantic? 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 College of the Atlantic and SHU.
- The graduation rate at College of the Atlantic is higher than Sacred Heart University (71% vs. 68%)
- Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn on average $31,500 more per year than College of the Atlantic graduates after ten years. ($59,700 vs. $28,200)
- College of the Atlantic students graduate with a $5,250 lower median federal student loan debt than SHU graduates. ($19,750 vs. $25,000)
- College of the Atlantic graduates are paying $54 less per month on federal student loans than SHU graduates. ($204 vs. $258)
- More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Atlantic students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 75%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/