SHU vs. UMES

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, MD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than UMES based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 3,177 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); University of Maryland Eastern Shore is in Princess Anne, MD (Distant Town setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Maryland Eastern Shore is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; University of Maryland Eastern Shore 11:1.

SHU vs. UMES Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or UMES? 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 Maryland Eastern Shore than SHU ($13,311 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Eastern Shore are 40.7% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($11,351 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 455.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMES (about $41,328 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $9,076.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 150.5% higher at SHU than at University of Maryland Eastern Shore (about $30,282 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $20,122.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at University of Maryland Eastern Shore (99% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 69.9% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Eastern Shore students ($21,625 vs. $12,728).

SHU vs. UMES Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Maryland Eastern Shore 840/1010.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Maryland Eastern Shore 16/19.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; UMES - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UMES Jun 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at UMES (3.07).
• UMES has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 8.6% at UMES.

SHU vs. UMES Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and UMES? 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 Maryland Eastern Shore's (31%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $19,300 more per year than UMES graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sacred Heart University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than UMES graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, SHU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMES graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMES students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 23%)

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.