SHU vs. F&M

Comparable Facts

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

Sacred Heart University is larger than F&M based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Franklin and Marshall College is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Franklin and Marshall College 9:1.

SHU vs. F&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or F&M? 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 Franklin and Marshall College than SHU ($43,987 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 15.4% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($16,188 vs. $19,140).
• Franklin and Marshall College is 40.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SHU (about $20,390 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $50,404.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 40.5% higher at F&M than at Sacred Heart University (about $20,390 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $50,404.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at Franklin and Marshall College (99% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 93.8% larger than aid received by Sacred Heart University students ($41,901 vs. $21,625).

SHU vs. F&M Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or F&M? 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 F&M and SHU.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsFranklin and Marshall College 1310/1463.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsFranklin and Marshall College 30/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; F&M - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: F&M Jan 15, 2027.
• SHU has a higher acceptance rate (65.4%) than F&M (28.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 17.1% at F&M.

SHU vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and F&M? 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).

• Franklin and Marshall College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Sacred Heart University's (68%).
• Graduates from Franklin and Marshall College earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than SHU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $59,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Franklin and Marshall College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($22,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, F&M graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHU graduates ($227 vs. $258).
• More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SHU students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 76%)

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.