SHU vs. FDU

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus in Madison, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than FDU based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 2,885 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is in Madison, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 11:1.

SHU vs. FDU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or FDU? 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 Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus than SHU ($25,585 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus are 15% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($16,270 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 32.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than FDU (about $12,400 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $38,004.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.6% higher at SHU than at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus (about $12,400 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $38,004.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus than at Sacred Heart University (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus students is 30.8% larger than aid received by Sacred Heart University students ($28,294 vs. $21,625).

SHU vs. FDU Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsFairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 1040/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsFairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 19/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; FDU - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at FDU (3.42).
• FDU has a higher acceptance rate (95.2%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 10.5% at FDU.

SHU vs. FDU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and FDU? 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 Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus's (55%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than FDU graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $52,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sacred Heart University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than FDU graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, SHU graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than FDU graduates ($258 vs. $268).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FDU 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.