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Fairfield University Marist College Quinnipiac VSU Old Dominion Hampton University University of Bridgeport RIC Siena College Loyola University Maryland Salve Regina University Bowie State University| Sacred Heart University | Norfolk State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
SHU | NSU | ||
| Location | Fairfield, CT | Norfolk, VA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 10,721 | 5,783 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #1008 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | sacredheart.edu | nsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
SHU | NSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $46,310 | $5,752 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $46,310 | $16,920 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,520 | $10,844 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $45,280 | $14,652 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $19,484 | $12,164 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 91% |
Admission |
SHU | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 13,316 | 8,884 | ||
| Admitted | 8,750 | 7,951 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 65.7% | 89.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.3% | 16.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.55 | 2.9 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 15/20 | |||
| SAT Range | 840/1040 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | May 31, 2025 |
Academics |
SHU | NSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
SHU | NSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 33% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,700 | $36,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 76% | 27% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $31,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $320 |
Diversity |
SHU | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 35% | 33% | ||
| % Women | 65% | 67% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 71% | 5% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 84% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 12% | 3% |
Students |
SHU | NSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 23% | 65% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 75% | 31% | ||
Campus |
SHU | NSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Sacred Heart University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (10,721 students vs. 5,783 students)
SHU vs. NSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, SHU or NSU?
- Sacred Heart University is 705.1% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($46,310.00 vs. $5,752.00)
- Out of state tuition is 173.7% higher at SHU than Norfolk State University ($46,310.00 vs. $16,920.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Norfolk State University than SHU ($14,652 vs. $45,280)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 61.6% lower than costs at Sacred Heart University ($10,844 vs. $17,520)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Sacred Heart University than Norfolk State University (99% vs. 91%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 60.2% larger than aid received Norfolk State University ($19,484 vs. $12,164)
SHU vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, SHU or NSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NSU or SHU .
- Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.65 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at NSU (2.9)
- NSU has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than SHU (65.7%)
SHU vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, SHU or NSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between NSU and SHU.
- The graduation rate at SHU is higher than Norfolk State University (68% vs. 33%)
- Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn on average $23,000 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($59,700 vs. $36,700)
- Sacred Heart University students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $31,000)
- SHU graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($258 vs. $320)
- More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 27%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/