SHU vs. Thomas College

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Thomas College in Waterville, ME on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than Thomas College based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 1,635 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Thomas College is in Waterville, ME (Rural Fringe setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Thomas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Thomas College 20:1.

SHU vs. Thomas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or Thomas 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 Thomas College than SHU ($19,126 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas College are 26.4% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($14,090 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 58.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Thomas College (about $18,580 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 58.4% higher at SHU than at Thomas College (about $18,580 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at Thomas College (99% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Thomas College students is 30.5% larger than aid received by Sacred Heart University students ($28,212 vs. $21,625).

SHU vs. Thomas College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; Thomas College - Test-free.
• Thomas College has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 16.1% at Thomas College.

SHU vs. Thomas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and Thomas 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 Thomas College's (45%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $18,700 more per year than Thomas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $41,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sacred Heart University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Thomas College graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, SHU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Thomas College graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Thomas College students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 67%)

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.