SHU vs. Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than Massachusetts College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 1,989 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Massachusetts College of Art and Design is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Massachusetts College of Art and Design 9:1.

SHU vs. Massachusetts College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or Massachusetts College of Art and Design? 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design than SHU ($24,864 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sacred Heart University are 1.4% lower than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design ($19,140 vs. $19,412).
• Sacred Heart University is 227.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Massachusetts College of Art and Design (about $35,004 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $15,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.1% higher at SHU than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (about $7,004 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $43,400.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (99% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 107.5% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Art and Design students ($21,625 vs. $10,421).

SHU vs. Massachusetts College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or Massachusetts College of Art and Design? 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design and SHU.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; Massachusetts College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Massachusetts College of Art and Design Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (3.53).
• Massachusetts College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (76.3%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 17.3% at Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

SHU vs. Massachusetts College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and Massachusetts College of Art and Design? 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).

• The graduation rate at SHU is the same as at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (68% vs. 68%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $21,000 more per year than Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $38,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sacred Heart University graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates ($25,000 vs. $25,250).
• Among borrowers, SHU graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates ($258 vs. $261).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Massachusetts College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 64%)

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.