SHU vs. WestConn

Should I go to Sacred Heart University or Western Connecticut State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SHU or WestConn 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. Western Connecticut State University comparison
Sacred Heart University Western Connecticut State University College 3 College 4
Sacred Heart University Western Connecticut State University
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Overview

SHU WestConn
Location Fairfield, CT Danbury, CT
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 10,721 4,417
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #466
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website sacredheart.edu wcsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

SHU WestConn
Tuition (In State) $46,310 $6,464
Tuition (Out of State) $46,310 $19,358
Room & Board $17,520 $14,568
Avg Net Price $45,280 $15,862
Avg Grant Aid $19,484 $9,057
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 72%

Admission

SHU WestConn
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,316 5,093
Admitted 8,750 4,253
Acceptance Rate 65.7% 83.5%
Enrolled % 20.3% 14.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.55 3.38
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/29
SAT Range 1010/1230
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

SHU WestConn
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (36%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (8%)

Outcomes

SHU WestConn
Graduation Rate 68% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,700 $47,400
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $258

Diversity

SHU WestConn
% Men 35% 45%
% Women 65% 55%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 71% 61%
% Black 4% 12%
% Hispanic 8% 18%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 12% 3%

Students

SHU WestConn
% In-State 23% 70%
% Out-of-State 75% 30%

Campus

SHU WestConn
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Sacred Heart University is larger than than WestConn based on total student enrollment (10,721 students vs. 4,417 students)

SHU vs. WestConn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or WestConn?

  • Sacred Heart University is 616.4% more expensive to attend than WestConn for in-state tuition ($46,310.00 vs. $6,464.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 139.2% higher at SHU than Western Connecticut State University ($46,310.00 vs. $19,358.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Connecticut State University than SHU ($15,862 vs. $45,280)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Connecticut State University are 20.3% lower than costs at Sacred Heart University ($14,568 vs. $17,520)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sacred Heart University than Western Connecticut State University (99% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 115.1% larger than aid received Western Connecticut State University ($19,484 vs. $9,057)

SHU vs. WestConn Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • 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 (83.5%) than SHU (65.7%)

SHU vs. WestConn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SHU or WestConn? 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 WestConn and SHU.

  • The graduation rate at SHU is higher than Western Connecticut State University (68% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn on average $12,300 more per year than WestConn graduates after ten years. ($59,700 vs. $47,400)
  • Western Connecticut State University and SHU graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($25,000 vs. $25,000)
  • Western Connecticut State University and SHU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($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/