SHU vs. Dean College

Comparable Facts

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

Sacred Heart University is larger than Dean College based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 1,092 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

SHU vs. Dean College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or Dean 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 Dean College than SHU ($32,085 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sacred Heart University are 3.6% lower than at Dean College ($19,140 vs. $19,864).
• Sacred Heart University is 8.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dean College (about $3,878 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $46,526.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.3% higher at SHU than at Dean College (about $3,878 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $46,526.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dean College than at Sacred Heart University (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 52.4% larger than aid received by Sacred Heart University students ($32,958 vs. $21,625).

SHU vs. Dean College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; Dean College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.67 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Dean College (2.88).
• Dean College has a higher acceptance rate (73.7%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 8.7% at Dean College.

SHU vs. Dean College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and Dean 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 Dean College's (62%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $24,500 more per year than Dean College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dean College graduates have a $8,647 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($16,353 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $89 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHU graduates ($169 vs. $258).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dean College students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 53%)

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.