Sacred Heart University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Fairfield, Connecticut. It enrolls 7,087 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
59/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes78
Value8
Affordability5
Selectivity68
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 65.4%, Sacred Heart University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
65.4%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Sacred Heart University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
3.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Sacred Heart University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $46,174 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$46,174
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
16%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
57%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$50,404
Room & Board (on-campus)
$19,140
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,300
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,650
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,150
Total Cost of Attendance
$69,289
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$38,691
$30,001 – $48,000
$40,517
$48,001 – $75,000
$41,647
$75,001 – $110,000
$46,348
Over $110,000
$48,217
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,16810%percentile
$7,59525%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$30,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,500
↓ $5,500
No Pell $20,000
↓ $5,000
Dependent students $20,980
↓ $4,020
Independent students $12,421
↓ $12,579
Female students $19,750
↓ $5,250
Male students $20,000
↓ $5,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,250, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
64% of full-time students who enrolled at Sacred Heart University graduate within six years, and 84% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
64%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
84%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Sacred Heart University earn a median of $75,059 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$75,059
Earning > $25K
89%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$59,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$65,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$54,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$58,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$64,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $5,700, about 9% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
11.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 91% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Sacred Heart University is home to 7,087 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
7,087
Part-Time
5%
First-Generation
23%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 74.8%5,301
Hispanic 14.5%1,027
Black 3.3%231
Other 2.7%194
Asian 1.7%123
International 1.1%80
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Sacred Heart University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbFairfield, Connecticut
Housing
Mostly residential3,619 beds on campus
Adult Learners
4%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Sacred Heart University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
85 distinct programs across
20 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Sacred Heart University is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$768M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$97,457
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
359 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
55
15%
$125,395
Associate Professors
90
25%
$105,972
Assistant Professors
163
45%
$90,116
Instructors
21
6%
$70,825
Lecturers
30
8%
$79,226
Pros & Cons of Sacred Heart University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Sacred Heart University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
High published cost of attendance before aid
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Sacred Heart University is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sacred Heart University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Sacred Heart University.
Is Sacred Heart University hard to get into?
Admissions at Sacred Heart University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 65.4%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Sacred Heart University?
Sacred Heart University has an acceptance rate of 65.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Sacred Heart University cost?
The average net price after aid at Sacred Heart University is $46,174 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Sacred Heart University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $75,059 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $46,174 per year. That's roughly 1.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Sacred Heart University known for?
Sacred Heart University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Information Systems, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Sacred Heart University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Sacred Heart University are $75,059, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Sacred Heart University accredited?
Yes. Sacred Heart University is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Sacred Heart University?
Sacred Heart University enrolls 7,087 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Sacred Heart University?
Sacred Heart University graduates 64% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Sacred Heart University a public or private college?
Sacred Heart University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Sacred Heart University located?
Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, Connecticut.
What programs does Sacred Heart University offer?
Sacred Heart University offers 85 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Information Systems, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Sacred Heart University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Sacred Heart University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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