SHU vs. CU

Deciding between Sacred Heart University and Cumberland University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Sacred Heart University
Cumberland University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SHU Fairfield, CT
  • CU Lebanon, TN
  • Setting
  • SHU Large Suburban
  • CU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • SHU 11,022
  • CU 3,457
  • Type
  • SHU Private 4 Year
  • CU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SHU
  • CU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SHU Roman Catholic
  • CU -
  • Status
  • SHU Non-profit
  • CU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SHU
  • CU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SHU $50,404
  • CU $27,840
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SHU $50,404
  • CU $27,840
  • Room & Board
  • SHU $19,140
  • CU $12,800
  • Average Net Price
  • SHU $47,848
  • CU $18,499
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SHU $21,625
  • CU $24,703
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SHU 99%
  • CU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SHU 16,495
  • CU 2,495
  • Admitted
  • SHU 10,781
  • CU 1,680
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SHU 65.4%
  • CU 67.3%
  • Enrolled
  • SHU 17.5%
  • CU 40.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SHU
  • CU
  • Typical ACT score
  • SHU
  • CU
  • Average High School GPA
  • SHU 3.55
  • CU 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SHU A-
  • CU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • SHU Unavailable
  • CU Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • SHU Low
  • CU Low
  • ACT Range
  • SHU
  • CU
  • SAT Range
  • SHU
  • CU
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SHU Test-free
  • CU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • SHU
  • CU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SHU 15:1
  • CU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SHU
    • Business (36%)
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • CU
    • Health Professions (46%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Biology (4%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SHU 68%
  • CU 34%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SHU $59,700
  • CU $39,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SHU 76%
  • CU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SHU $25,000
  • CU $21,729
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SHU $258
  • CU $224

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SHU 36%
  • CU 47%
  • % Women
  • SHU 64%
  • CU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SHU Low
  • CU Low
  • HBCU
  • SHU No
  • CU No
  • % White
  • SHU 71%
  • CU 63%
  • % Asian
  • SHU 2%
  • CU 1%
  • % Black
  • SHU 4%
  • CU 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • SHU 8%
  • CU 3%
  • % Native American
  • SHU 0%
  • CU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SHU 0%
  • CU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SHU 2%
  • CU 0%
  • % International
  • SHU 1%
  • CU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SHU 12%
  • CU 16%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SHU 23%
  • CU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SHU 76%
  • CU 8%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • SHU Yes
  • CU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • SHU No
  • CU No
  • Meal Plan
  • SHU Yes
  • CU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • SHU Yes
  • CU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • SHU No
  • CU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than CU based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 3,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
  • Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

SHU vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or CU? 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 Cumberland University than SHU ($18,499 vs. $47,848).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cumberland University are 33.1% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($12,800 vs. $19,140).
  • Sacred Heart University is 81% more expensive for in-state tuition than CU (about $22,564 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $27,840.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 81% higher at SHU than at Cumberland University (about $22,564 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $27,840.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cumberland University than at Sacred Heart University (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cumberland University students is 14.2% larger than aid received by Sacred Heart University students ($24,703 vs. $21,625).

SHU vs. CU Admissions comparison

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

  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; CU - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at CU (3.3).
  • CU has a higher acceptance rate (67.3%) than SHU (65.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 40.5% at CU.

SHU vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and CU? 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 Cumberland University's (34%).
  • Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $19,800 more per year than CU graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $39,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $3,271 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($21,729 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHU graduates ($224 vs. $258).
  • More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 60%)

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.