Sacred Heart University (SHU)
Private nonprofit four-year university in Fairfield, CT that costs an average of $45,827 a year after financial aid, admits 65% of applicants and graduates 77% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$45,827
Acceptance rate
65%
Graduation rate
77%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$80,896
Private nonprofitLarge suburb7,087 undergraduates
Cost of SHU
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $71,445 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $52,410 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $19,900 |
| Books and supplies | $1,200 |
| Average net price after aid | $45,827 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $37,930 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $37,832 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $39,021 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $46,463 |
| $110,001+ | $49,120 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Get your own estimate with SHU's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 65% |
|---|---|
| Test scores | Neither required nor recommended |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 77% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 83% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $66,443 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $80,896 |
| Rank in Connecticut (earnings) | 12th of 25 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $25,000 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $284 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 19% |
| Students with federal loans | 58% |
Majors and programs at SHU
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (45)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 464 | $95,600 | $26,295 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 271 | $68,436 | $23,250 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 155 | $62,075 | $24,500 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 36 | $58,018 | $23,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 301 | $53,276 | $24,250 |
| Marketing | 226 | $52,002 | $25,000 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | 57 | $51,925 | $25,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 172 | $41,551 | $23,250 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 106 | $40,639 | $23,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 145 | $40,414 | $26,000 |
| Biology | 122 | $36,109 | $26,000 |
| Psychology | 1 | $31,837 | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 16 | — | — |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 10 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 7 | — | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 107 | — | $23,000 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | 8 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering | 4 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | — | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | 17 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 20 | — | — |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 6 | — | — |
| Economics | 75 | — | $24,249 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 6 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 42 | — | $23,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 23 | — | — |
| History | 23 | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 13 | — | — |
| International/Globalization Studies | 5 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 46 | — | $27,000 |
| Mathematics | 26 | — | — |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies | 109 | — | $27,000 |
| Music | 2 | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 19 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 7 | — | — |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 229 | — | $20,500 |
| Political Science and Government | 36 | — | $22,500 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 42 | — | $27,000 |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 267 | — | $25,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 3 | — | — |
| Security Science and Technology | 14 | — | — |
| Social Work | 35 | — | $24,375 |
| Sociology | 14 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
Certificate programs (3)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | — | — | — |
| Food Science and Technology | 33 | — | — |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | 6 | — | — |
Associate's degree programs (3)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 95 | $87,115 | $21,500 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 38 | $74,743 | $21,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 4 | — | — |
Master's degree programs (34)
Doctoral degree programs (4)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| Education | 17 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 11 | — | — |
| Social Work | — | — | — |
Professional degree programs (2)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 64 | $131,842 | $68,125 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 131 | $79,981 | $76,500 |
Graduate certificate programs (17)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 99 | $90,063 | $33,052 |
| Accounting and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 3 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 3 | — | — |
| Data Analytics | — | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 1 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 1 | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 2 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 2 | — | — |
| Marketing | 5 | — | — |
| Public Health | — | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 14 | — | — |
| Security Science and Technology | 1 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 8 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 21 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 50 | — | — |
Similar colleges in Connecticut
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yale University | New Haven | $11,340 | 3.9% | $118,356 |
| Quinnipiac University | Hamden | $41,729 | 72% | $87,596 |
| Fairfield University | Fairfield | $49,906 | 33% | $101,587 |
| University of New Haven | West Haven | $32,994 | 60% | $69,320 |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford | $28,928 | 96% | $66,020 |
| Wesleyan University | Middletown | $23,014 | 16% | $86,811 |
| Trinity College | Hartford | $37,004 | 29% | $103,089 |
| Connecticut College | New London | $35,960 | 37% | $82,225 |
About SHU
| Type | Private nonprofit four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Fairfield, CT |
| Setting | Large suburb |
| Undergraduates | 7,087 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 15 to 1 |
| Accreditor | New England Commission on Higher Education |
| Website | sacredheart.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is SHU's acceptance rate?
Sacred Heart University admits 65% of applicants.
How much does SHU cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $71,445 a year (tuition and fees: $52,410). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $45,827 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $37,930.
How much do SHU graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $80,896 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 12th of 25 similar colleges in Connecticut. The best-paid bachelor's program is registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing ($95,600 a year after graduation).
What is SHU's graduation rate?
77% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 83% of first-year students return for a second year.