SHU vs. Penn State Scranton

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Penn State Scranton in Dunmore, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than Penn State Scranton based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 800 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Scranton is in Dunmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Scranton is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Penn State Scranton 11:1.

SHU vs. Penn State Scranton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or Penn State Scranton? 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 Penn State Scranton than SHU ($17,536 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Scranton are 20.2% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($15,274 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 231.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Scranton (about $35,196 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 98.5% higher at SHU than at Penn State Scranton (about $25,012 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at Penn State Scranton (99% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 114.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Scranton students ($21,625 vs. $10,089).

SHU vs. Penn State Scranton Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or Penn State Scranton? 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 Penn State Scranton and SHU.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Scranton 1100/1270.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; Penn State Scranton - Test optional.
• Penn State Scranton has a higher acceptance rate (98.5%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 8.6% at Penn State Scranton.

SHU vs. Penn State Scranton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and Penn State Scranton? 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 Penn State Scranton's (46%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than Penn State Scranton graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sacred Heart University graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Scranton graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, SHU graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Scranton graduates ($258 vs. $277).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Scranton students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 69%)

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.