SHU vs. Peirce College

Comparable Facts

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

Sacred Heart University is larger than Peirce College based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 929 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Peirce College is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Peirce College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Peirce College 13:1.

SHU vs. Peirce College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or Peirce 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 Peirce College than SHU ($13,290 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Peirce College are 54% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($8,800 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 234.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Peirce College (about $35,344 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $15,060.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 234.7% higher at SHU than at Peirce College (about $35,344 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $15,060.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Peirce College than at Sacred Heart University (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 302.7% larger than aid received by Peirce College students ($21,625 vs. $5,370).

SHU vs. Peirce College Admissions comparison

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

• Peirce College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; Peirce College - Open admission.

SHU vs. Peirce College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and Peirce 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 Peirce College's (27%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than Peirce College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sacred Heart University graduates have a $11,125 lower median loan debt than Peirce College graduates ($25,000 vs. $36,125).
• Among borrowers, SHU graduates have an estimated $115 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Peirce College graduates ($258 vs. $373).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Peirce College students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 32%)

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.