SHU vs. Buffalo State College

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with SUNY Buffalo State University in Buffalo, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than Buffalo State College based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 6,188 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); SUNY Buffalo State University is in Buffalo, NY (Large City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY Buffalo State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; SUNY Buffalo State University 14:1.

SHU vs. Buffalo State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or Buffalo State 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 SUNY Buffalo State University than SHU ($12,023 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY Buffalo State University are 16.5% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($15,986 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 490.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Buffalo State College (about $41,871 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $8,533.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 156.5% higher at SHU than at SUNY Buffalo State University (about $30,751 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $19,653.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY Buffalo State University than at Sacred Heart University (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 84.9% larger than aid received by SUNY Buffalo State University students ($21,625 vs. $11,697).

SHU vs. Buffalo State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or Buffalo State College? 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 Buffalo State College and SHU.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSUNY Buffalo State University 980/1240.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; Buffalo State College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.71 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Buffalo State College (2.84).
• Buffalo State College has a higher acceptance rate (72.9%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 9.2% at Buffalo State College.

SHU vs. Buffalo State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and Buffalo State College? 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 SUNY Buffalo State University's (47%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $19,000 more per year than Buffalo State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $40,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, SUNY Buffalo State University graduates have a $3,591 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($21,409 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Buffalo State College graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHU graduates ($221 vs. $258).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Buffalo State College students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 59%)

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.