SHU vs. Sterling College

Sacred Heart University and Sterling College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Sacred Heart University
Sterling College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: SHU (65.4% admitted vs 66.7%). Typical SAT N/A vs N/A.
  • Cheaper after aid: Sterling College. Average net price is $21,854 vs $47,848 at SHU.
  • Graduation: SHU 68% vs Sterling College 50%.
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Key differences

Sacred Heart University Sterling College
Acceptance rate
SHU more selective
SHU65.4%
Sterling College66.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)
SHU-
Sterling College-
Average net price
Sterling College $25,994 less
SHU$47,848
Sterling College$21,854
In-state tuition
Sterling College $9,644 less
SHU$50,404
Sterling College$40,760
Out-of-state tuition
Sterling College $9,644 less
SHU$50,404
Sterling College$40,760
Graduation rate
SHU +18 pts
SHU68%
Sterling College50%
Median earnings (10 years)
SHU +$59,700
SHU$59,700
Sterling College-

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • SHU 16,495
  • Sterling College 69
  • Admitted
  • SHU 10,781
  • Sterling College 46
  • Acceptance rate
  • SHU 65.4%
  • Sterling College 66.7%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • SHU 17.5%
  • Sterling College 10.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SHU
  • Sterling College
  • Typical ACT score
  • SHU
  • Sterling College
  • Average high school GPA
  • SHU 3.55
  • Sterling College 3.1
  • Typical high school grades
  • SHU A-
  • Sterling College B
  • Admissions standards
  • SHU Unavailable
  • Sterling College Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • SHU Low
  • Sterling College Low
  • SAT range
  • SHU
  • Sterling College
  • ACT range
  • SHU
  • Sterling College
  • Submit test scores
  • SHU Test-free
  • Sterling College Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • SHU
  • Sterling College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • SHU $50,404
  • Sterling College $40,760
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • SHU $50,404
  • Sterling College $40,760
  • Room & board
  • SHU $19,140
  • Sterling College $10,950
  • Average net price
  • SHU $47,848
  • Sterling College $21,854
  • Average grant aid
  • SHU $21,625
  • Sterling College $32,556
  • % receiving grant aid
  • SHU 99%
  • Sterling College 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • SHU 68%
  • Sterling College 50%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • SHU $59,700
  • Sterling College N/A
  • Making student loan payments
  • SHU 76%
  • Sterling College 74%
  • Median student loan debt
  • SHU $25,000
  • Sterling College $17,035
  • Median loan payment
  • SHU $258
  • Sterling College $176
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • SHU 15:1
  • Sterling College 7:1
  • Popular majors
  • SHU
    • Business (36%)
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Sterling College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (48%)
    • Biology (33%)
    • Agriculture (14%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Location
  • SHU Fairfield, CT
  • Sterling College Craftsbury Common, VT
  • Setting
  • SHU Large Suburban
  • Sterling College Remote Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • SHU 11,022
  • Sterling College 57
  • Type
  • SHU Private 4 Year
  • Sterling College Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • SHU
  • 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 tables 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.

Cost details

  • 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).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.7% higher at SHU than at Sterling College (about $9,644 more per year; $50,404 vs. $40,760).
  • 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).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both SHU and Sterling College.
  • Enrolled first-year students at SHU average a 3.55 high school GPA, 0.45 higher than at Sterling College (3.1).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 10.9% at Sterling College.

Loans and repayment

  • 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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