SHU vs. Columbia College

Comparable Facts

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

Sacred Heart University is larger than Columbia College based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 5,689 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Columbia College is in Columbia, MO (Midsize City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Columbia College 20:1.

SHU vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or Columbia 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 Columbia College than SHU ($21,530 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 50.1% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($9,552 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 95.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Columbia College (about $24,578 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $25,826.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 95.2% higher at SHU than at Columbia College (about $24,578 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $25,826.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at Columbia College (99% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 36.2% larger than aid received by Columbia College students ($21,625 vs. $15,882).

SHU vs. Columbia College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or Columbia 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 Columbia College and SHU.

• Columbia College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; Columbia College - Open admission.
• Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at SHU (3.55).

SHU vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and Columbia 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 Columbia College's (39%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $17,900 more per year than Columbia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $41,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia College graduates have a $2,966 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($22,034 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Columbia College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHU graduates ($227 vs. $258).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 40%)

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.