SHU vs. FIT

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than FIT based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 8,206 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Fashion Institute of Technology is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Fashion Institute of Technology is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Fashion Institute of Technology 16:1.

SHU vs. FIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or FIT? 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 Fashion Institute of Technology than SHU ($16,340 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sacred Heart University are 24.8% lower than at Fashion Institute of Technology ($19,140 vs. $25,458).
• Sacred Heart University is 700.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than FIT (about $44,110 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $6,294.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 198.7% higher at SHU than at Fashion Institute of Technology (about $33,530 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $16,874.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at Fashion Institute of Technology (99% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 160.4% larger than aid received by Fashion Institute of Technology students ($21,625 vs. $8,304).

SHU vs. FIT Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; FIT - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: FIT Jan 1, 2027.
• SHU has a higher acceptance rate (65.4%) than FIT (60.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 55.8% at FIT.

SHU vs. FIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and FIT? 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).

• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $8,100 more per year than FIT graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $51,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fashion Institute of Technology graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($19,500 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, FIT graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHU graduates ($201 vs. $258).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FIT students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 70%)

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.