SHU vs. WestConn

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, CT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than WestConn based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 4,169 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Western Connecticut State University is in Danbury, CT (Small City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Connecticut State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Western Connecticut State University 11:1.

SHU vs. WestConn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or WestConn? 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 Western Connecticut State University than SHU ($17,185 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Connecticut State University are 18.2% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($15,659 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 276.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than WestConn (about $37,003 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $13,401.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 198.2% higher at SHU than at Western Connecticut State University (about $33,503 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $16,901.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at Western Connecticut State University (99% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 68% larger than aid received by Western Connecticut State University students ($21,625 vs. $12,870).

SHU vs. WestConn Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWestern Connecticut State University 1040/1170.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; WestConn - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at WestConn (3.38).
• WestConn has a higher acceptance rate (87%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 16.7% at WestConn.

SHU vs. WestConn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and WestConn? 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 Western Connecticut State University's (40%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $12,300 more per year than WestConn graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $47,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Connecticut State University and SHU graduates have the same median loan debt ($25,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Western Connecticut State University and SHU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($258 vs. $258).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WestConn students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 65%)

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.