SHU vs. CUW

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than CUW based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 5,253 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Concordia University Wisconsin is in Mequon, WI (Rural Fringe setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Concordia University Wisconsin is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Concordia University Wisconsin 11:1.

SHU vs. CUW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or CUW? 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 Concordia University Wisconsin than SHU ($31,916 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Concordia University Wisconsin are 31% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($13,200 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 42.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CUW (about $14,934 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $35,470.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 42.1% higher at SHU than at Concordia University Wisconsin (about $14,934 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $35,470.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University as at Concordia University Wisconsin (99% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 1.2% larger than aid received by Concordia University Wisconsin students ($21,625 vs. $21,379).

SHU vs. CUW Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or CUW? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CUW and SHU.

• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresConcordia University Wisconsin 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; CUW - Test optional.
• Enrolled freshman SHU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at CUW (3.52).
• CUW has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 14.1% at CUW.

SHU vs. CUW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and CUW? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Sacred Heart University's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Concordia University Wisconsin's (58%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $13,600 more per year than CUW graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $46,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Concordia University Wisconsin graduates have a $1,075 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($23,925 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, CUW graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHU graduates ($247 vs. $258).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CUW students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 52%)

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.