SHU vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

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

Sacred Heart University is larger than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 414 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1.

SHU vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than SHU ($28,826 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design are 10% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($17,230 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 56.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $18,254 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 56.8% higher at SHU than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $18,254 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Sacred Heart University (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 44.3% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students ($21,625 vs. $14,989).

SHU vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (3.13).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

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

How do outcomes compare for SHU and Pennsylvania 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).

• Sacred Heart University's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design's (52%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $31,000 more per year than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $28,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sacred Heart University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, SHU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 58%)

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.