SHU vs. UMA

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with University of Maine at Augusta in Augusta, ME on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than UMA based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 4,412 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); University of Maine at Augusta is in Augusta, ME (Distant Town setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Maine at Augusta is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; University of Maine at Augusta 16:1.

SHU vs. UMA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or UMA? 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 University of Maine at Augusta than SHU ($11,077 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maine at Augusta are 44.9% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($10,546 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 467.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMA (about $41,516 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $8,888.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 127.3% higher at SHU than at University of Maine at Augusta (about $28,226 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $22,178.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at University of Maine at Augusta (99% vs. 92%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 195.3% larger than aid received by University of Maine at Augusta students ($21,625 vs. $7,323).

SHU vs. UMA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or UMA? 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 UMA and SHU.

• University of Maine at Augusta reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; UMA - Open admission.

SHU vs. UMA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and UMA? 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 University of Maine at Augusta's (16%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $29,600 more per year than UMA graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $30,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maine at Augusta graduates have a $2,250 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($22,750 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, UMA graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHU graduates ($235 vs. $258).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMA students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 39%)

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.