SHU vs. Russell Sage College

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Russell Sage College in Troy, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than Russell Sage College based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 2,790 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Russell Sage College is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Russell Sage College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Russell Sage College 10:1.

SHU vs. Russell Sage College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or Russell Sage 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 Russell Sage College than SHU ($21,046 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Russell Sage College are 26.6% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($14,048 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 32.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Russell Sage College (about $12,240 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $38,164.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.1% higher at SHU than at Russell Sage College (about $12,240 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $38,164.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Russell Sage College than at Sacred Heart University (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Russell Sage College students is 35.5% larger than aid received by Sacred Heart University students ($29,295 vs. $21,625).

SHU vs. Russell Sage College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or Russell Sage 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 Russell Sage College and SHU.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; Russell Sage College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Russell Sage College (3.3).
• SHU has a higher acceptance rate (65.4%) than Russell Sage College (53.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 19.4% at Russell Sage College.

SHU vs. Russell Sage College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and Russell Sage 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 Russell Sage College's (58%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $16,600 more per year than Russell Sage College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $43,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Russell Sage College graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($23,250 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Russell Sage College 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 Russell Sage College 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.