SHU vs. University of New England

Comparable Facts

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

Sacred Heart University is larger than University of New England based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 6,573 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); University of New England is in Biddeford, ME (Small City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of New England is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; University of New England 11:1.

SHU vs. University of New England Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or University of New England? 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 New England than SHU ($40,003 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of New England are 6% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($18,000 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 14% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of New England (about $6,194 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $44,210.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14% higher at SHU than at University of New England (about $6,194 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $44,210.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of New England than at Sacred Heart University (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of New England students is 7.5% larger than aid received by Sacred Heart University students ($23,255 vs. $21,625).

SHU vs. University of New England Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or University of New England? 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 University of New England and SHU.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; University of New England - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: University of New England Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at University of New England (3.41).
• University of New England has a higher acceptance rate (91.6%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 12.4% at University of New England.

SHU vs. University of New England Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and University of New England? 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 New England's (57%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than University of New England graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $53,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sacred Heart University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than University of New England graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, SHU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of New England graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of New England students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 75%)

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.