SHU vs. St. Thomas University

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than St. Thomas University based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 7,652 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); St. Thomas University is in Miami Gardens, FL (Large Suburban setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. St. Thomas University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; St. Thomas University 17:1.

SHU vs. St. Thomas University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or St. Thomas University? 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 St. Thomas University than SHU ($27,844 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St. Thomas University are 31% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($13,210 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 45% more expensive for in-state tuition than St. Thomas University (about $15,634 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $34,770.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 45% higher at SHU than at St. Thomas University (about $15,634 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $34,770.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University as at St. Thomas University (99% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St. Thomas University students is 8% larger than aid received by Sacred Heart University students ($23,356 vs. $21,625).

SHU vs. St. Thomas University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or St. Thomas University? 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 St. Thomas University and SHU.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSt. Thomas University 860/1060.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSt. Thomas University 16/21.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; St. Thomas University - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at St. Thomas University (3.24).
• St. Thomas University has a higher acceptance rate (97.9%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 10.5% at St. Thomas University.

SHU vs. St. Thomas University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and St. Thomas University? 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 St. Thomas University's (39%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $3,300 more per year than St. Thomas University graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $56,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, St. Thomas University graduates have a $2,247 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($22,753 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, St. Thomas University graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHU graduates ($235 vs. $258).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Thomas University students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 48%)

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.