SHU vs. University of the District of Columbia

Should I go to Sacred Heart University or University of the District of Columbia? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SHU or University of the District of Columbia is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Sacred Heart University vs. University of the District of Columbia comparison
Sacred Heart University University of the District of Columbia College 3 College 4
Sacred Heart University University of the District of Columbia
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Overview

SHU University of the District of Columbia
Location Fairfield, CT Washington, DC
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 10,721 3,577
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sacredheart.edu udc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

SHU University of the District of Columbia
Tuition (In State) $46,310 $5,292
Tuition (Out of State) $46,310 $12,144
Room & Board $17,520 $15,137
Avg Net Price $45,280 $15,021
Avg Grant Aid $19,484 $7,662
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 89%

Admission

SHU University of the District of Columbia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,316 -
Admitted 8,750 -
Acceptance Rate 65.7% Open
Enrolled % 20.3% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.55 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

SHU University of the District of Columbia
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (36%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)

Outcomes

SHU University of the District of Columbia
Graduation Rate 68% 8%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,700 $37,100
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 28%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $227

Diversity

SHU University of the District of Columbia
% Men 35% 36%
% Women 65% 64%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No Yes
% White 71% 4%
% Black 4% 62%
% Hispanic 8% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 1% 8%
% Unknown Race 12% 12%

Students

SHU University of the District of Columbia
% In-State 23% 82%
% Out-of-State 75% 13%

Campus

SHU University of the District of Columbia
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Sacred Heart University is larger than than University of the District of Columbia based on total student enrollment (10,721 students vs. 3,577 students)

SHU vs. University of the District of Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or University of the District of Columbia?

  • Sacred Heart University is 775.1% more expensive to attend than University of the District of Columbia for in-state tuition ($46,310.00 vs. $5,292.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 281.3% higher at SHU than University of the District of Columbia ($46,310.00 vs. $12,144.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of the District of Columbia than SHU ($15,021 vs. $45,280)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the District of Columbia are 15.7% lower than costs at Sacred Heart University ($15,137 vs. $17,520)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sacred Heart University than University of the District of Columbia (99% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 154.3% larger than aid received University of the District of Columbia ($19,484 vs. $7,662)

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or University of the District of Columbia? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of the District of Columbia or SHU .

SHU vs. University of the District of Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SHU or University of the District of Columbia? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between University of the District of Columbia and SHU.

  • The graduation rate at SHU is higher than University of the District of Columbia (68% vs. 8%)
  • Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn on average $22,600 more per year than University of the District of Columbia graduates after ten years. ($59,700 vs. $37,100)
  • University of the District of Columbia students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than SHU graduates. ($22,000 vs. $25,000)
  • University of the District of Columbia graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than SHU graduates. ($227 vs. $258)
  • More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of the District of Columbia students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 28%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/