SHU vs. Keystone College

Comparable Facts

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

Sacred Heart University is larger than Keystone College based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 952 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Keystone College is in La Plume, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Keystone College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Keystone College 12:1.

SHU vs. Keystone College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or Keystone 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 Keystone College than SHU ($21,952 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Keystone College are 34.2% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($12,600 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 175.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Keystone College (about $32,104 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $18,300.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 175.4% higher at SHU than at Keystone College (about $32,104 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $18,300.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at Keystone College (99% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 113.7% larger than aid received by Keystone College students ($21,625 vs. $10,119).

SHU vs. Keystone College Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsKeystone College 910/1130.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; Keystone College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.55 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Keystone College (3.0).
• Keystone College has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 10.8% at Keystone College.

SHU vs. Keystone College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and Keystone 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 Keystone College's (39%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $26,300 more per year than Keystone College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $33,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sacred Heart University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Keystone College graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, SHU graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Keystone College graduates ($258 vs. $268).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Keystone College students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 57%)

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.