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As the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers nearly 90 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs. More than 10,000 students attend the University’s nine colleges and schools:
Arts & Sciences
Communication
Media & the Arts
Social Work
Computer Science & Engineering
Health Professions
the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development
the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology
the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing
and St. Vincent’s College
Sacred Heart stands out from other Catholic institutions as it was established and led by laity. The contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, and at the same time cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 388 Colleges–2023 Edition, and Best Business Schools–2022 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliated radio station, WSHU, a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theatre.
Sacred Heart University is a private, religious school in a suburban setting in Fairfield, Connecticut. Sacred Heart University was founded in 1963 and now enrolls around 9,156 students a year, including 6,158 undergrads. Sacred Heart University provides housing for students. Most students live in off campus housing.
There are many ways for students to get involved at Sacred Heart University! Love music or performing? Join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of Sacred Heart University's theater groups.
Interested in journalism or communications? Sacred Heart University students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.
Excited for Greek life? Sacred Heart University has fraternities and sororities.
Planning to play sports? Sacred Heart University has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Sacred Heart University on the Student Life page.
Learn more about life at Sacred Heart University on the Student Life page.
Mark your calendar! December 1, 2022 is the final deadline to submit an application for Fall.
2021 Sacred Heart University Facts At-A-Glance | |
---|---|
Academic Calendar | Semester |
Overall Acceptance Rate | 64% |
Early Decision Acceptance Rate | 85% |
Early Action Acceptance Rate | EA not offered |
Average GPA | 3.6 |
Applicants Submitting SAT scores | 52% |
Tuition | $42,800 |
Percent of Need Met | 59% |
Average First-Year Financial Aid Package | $23,352 |
The definition of a "good school" is different for different people. Admissions difficulty and admitted student statistics can give you a sense of how selective a school is, but they don't tell you how happy or successful students are. There are a few statistics that can give you a good idea of how satisfied students are and how well a school supports its students.
Let's take a look at each of these factors to get a clearer sense of what Sacred Heart University offers and if it sounds like the right college for you.
It is moderately difficult to get into Sacred Heart University. The acceptance rate at Sacred Heart University is 64%. Out of 11,748 applications received in 2021, 7,515 students were offered admission.
Retention is the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.
About 83% of students who start at Sacred Heart University come back for their second year of college.Sacred Heart University's six-year graduation rate for undergrads is 73%. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.
Job placement rates after graduation and average starting salaries can all give important clues about the value of a degree from a specific school. Within six months of graduating, 10% of graduates receive at least one full-time job offer.
Recent Sacred Heart University grads have an average starting salary of $54,730 a year. The average starting salary for all 2021 graduates was around $60,000 a year, though these numbers vary widely by major.
An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students. As of 2020, the total market value of the school endowment was $167.6 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. For each full-time student, Sacred Heart University spends about $9,631 a year.
Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need. Sacred Heart University meets 59% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend Sacred Heart University full-time are awarded $23,352 a year in financial aid, on average.
In 2020, students graduated with an average of $46,843 in student loans for each student with debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.
The 2022-2023 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2021
Some aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA asap. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so be very wary of anyone asking you for money.
Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Sacred Heart University. Based on this information, how does Sacred Heart University sound? Remember, the best school for one person may not be the right school for someone else! So ask yourself: Is Sacred Heart University a good school for you?
If Sacred Heart University seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.
To learn more about Sacred Heart University, choose from the options below:
Sacred Heart University Community Forums
Then use the college admissions predictor to take a data science look at your chances of getting accepted at some of the most popular schools in the U.S.
Sacred Heart University is located in the suburban setting of Fairfield, Connecticut, less than an hour from New York City.
If you want to see Sacred Heart University for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Merritt Parkway to Fairfield, or book a flight to the nearest airport, LaGuardia.
You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Sacred Heart University and Fairfield are like without leaving home.
See a full list of colleges in Connecticut and save your favorites to your college list.
First-Year Applications are Due
Transfer Applications are Due
The deadline for Fall transfer applications to Sacred Heart University is Aug 15.
Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs
Composite SAT Range
Math SAT Range
Reading SAT Range
SAT Score
Estimated Chance
1280 and Above
1150 to 1280
1150 and Less
The median SAT score for Sacred Heart University students is 1230. Applicants with SAT scores of 1280 and above have a good chance of being admitted to Sacred Heart University, while applicants with SAT scores between 1150 to 1280 have an average chance of admittance, and prospective students with an SAT score below 1150 have a low chance of being offered a spot at Sacred Heart University.
Tuition & Fees
$49,585
In State$49,585
Out-of-StateWant funding for college that doesn't need to be paid back? Explore College Confidential's new scholarship tool and search for scholarships that are tailored to you.
Wondering what life at Sacred Heart University is like? There are approximately 10,721 students enrolled at Sacred Heart University, including 6,782 undergraduate students and 3,939 graduate students. 93% percent of students attend school full-time, 29% percent are from CT and 71% percent of students are from other states.
93%
Full Time7%
Part Time29%
In State71%
Out-of-StateData Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved
Total Enrollment
Campus Setting
Acceptance Rate
Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline
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