SHU vs. WPI

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than WPI based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 7,584 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Worcester Polytechnic Institute is in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Worcester Polytechnic Institute 13:1.

SHU vs. WPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or WPI? 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 Worcester Polytechnic Institute than SHU ($47,372 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are 3.9% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($18,386 vs. $19,140).
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 21% more expensive for in-state tuition than SHU (about $10,561 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $50,404.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21% higher at WPI than at Sacred Heart University (about $10,561 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $50,404.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute than at Sacred Heart University (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Worcester Polytechnic Institute students is 45.9% larger than aid received by Sacred Heart University students ($31,545 vs. $21,625).

SHU vs. WPI Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; WPI - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: WPI Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman WPI students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at SHU (3.55).
• SHU has a higher acceptance rate (65.4%) than WPI (60.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 18.1% at WPI.

SHU vs. WPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and WPI? 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).

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Sacred Heart University's (68%).
• Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $23,000 more per year than SHU graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,700 vs. $59,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sacred Heart University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than WPI graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, SHU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WPI graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SHU students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 76%)

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.