SHU vs. Sterling College

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 57 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Sterling College is in Craftsbury Common, VT (Remote Rural setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Sterling College 7:1.

SHU vs. Sterling College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or Sterling 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 Sterling College than SHU ($21,854 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 42.8% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($10,950 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 23.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sterling College (about $9,644 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $40,760.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23.7% higher at SHU than at Sterling College (about $9,644 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $40,760.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sterling College than at Sacred Heart University (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 50.5% larger than aid received by Sacred Heart University students ($32,556 vs. $21,625).

SHU vs. Sterling College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or Sterling College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Sterling College and SHU.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; Sterling College - Test-free.
• Enrolled freshman SHU students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Sterling College (3.1).
• Sterling College has a higher acceptance rate (66.7%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 10.9% at Sterling College.

SHU vs. Sterling College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and Sterling College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Sacred Heart University's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Sterling College's (50%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University have median earnings of about $59,700 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for Sterling College.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $7,965 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($17,035 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Sterling College graduates have an estimated $82 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHU graduates ($176 vs. $258).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sterling College students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 74%)

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.