SHU vs. Walnut Hill College

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Walnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than Walnut Hill College based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 175 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Walnut Hill College is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Walnut Hill College is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Walnut Hill College 20:1.

SHU vs. Walnut Hill College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or Walnut Hill 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 Walnut Hill College than SHU ($26,675 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Walnut Hill College are 36.8% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($12,100 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 70.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Walnut Hill College (about $20,905 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $29,499.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 70.9% higher at SHU than at Walnut Hill College (about $20,905 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $29,499.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at Walnut Hill College (99% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 120.1% larger than aid received by Walnut Hill College students ($21,625 vs. $9,827).

SHU vs. Walnut Hill College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or Walnut Hill 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 Walnut Hill College and SHU.

• Walnut Hill College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; Walnut Hill College - Open admission.
• SHU has a higher acceptance rate (65.4%) than Walnut Hill College (42.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 52.3% at Walnut Hill College.

SHU vs. Walnut Hill College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and Walnut Hill 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 Walnut Hill College's (21%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $22,300 more per year than Walnut Hill College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Walnut Hill College graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($19,500 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Walnut Hill College graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHU graduates ($201 vs. $258).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Walnut Hill College students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 56%)

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.