SHU vs. SCSU

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, CT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than SCSU based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 9,377 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Southern Connecticut State University is in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Southern Connecticut State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Southern Connecticut State University 11:1.

SHU vs. SCSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or SCSU? 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 Southern Connecticut State University than SHU ($19,827 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Connecticut State University are 22% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($14,938 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 275.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCSU (about $36,966 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $13,438.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 84.1% higher at SHU than at Southern Connecticut State University (about $23,026 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $27,378.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at Southern Connecticut State University (99% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 116.7% larger than aid received by Southern Connecticut State University students ($21,625 vs. $9,977).

SHU vs. SCSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or SCSU? 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 SCSU and SHU.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; SCSU - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at SCSU (3.2).
• SCSU has a higher acceptance rate (91.5%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 13.6% at SCSU.

SHU vs. SCSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and SCSU? 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 Southern Connecticut State University's (44%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $13,900 more per year than SCSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $45,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southern Connecticut State University graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($23,250 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, SCSU graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHU graduates ($240 vs. $258).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCSU students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 62%)

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.