Admit rate has ranged 64%–68% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Sacred Heart University is a rapidly growing Catholic institution in Fairfield, CT, blending liberal arts rigor with career-focused programs—most notably its powerhouse nursing department. With a 65% acceptance rate and a lively campus culture heavy on Greek life and service, SHU attracts a geographically diverse student body (from 45 states) who graduate at a solid 74% rate, often landing in healthcare roles.
Admission requirements
Test-blind — scores not considered
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
College-prep program
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
7,087
In-state tuition
$50,404
Out-of-state tuition
$50,404
Top Major
Nursing
Campus Vibe
Active, service-oriented
Median Debt
$25,000
Acceptance Rate
65%
Graduation Rate
74%
Total Enrollment
10,000+
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$75,059
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
1.6×
Median debt at graduation
$25,000
Graduation rate
73%
First-year retention
83%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
74%
Pell (lower-income) share
29%
First-generation share
23%
Endowment / student
$44,589
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$74,929
Computer and Information Sciences, General$61,516
Economics$58,943
Accounting and Related Services$56,641
Finance and Financial Management Services$55,348
Marketing
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
4
Per 1,000 students
0.56
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
94
Summer high
81°F
Winter low
27°F
Annual rain
57.2"
Annual snow
23.6"
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023).
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
96
Scholarly works
2,494
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
2.0%
Bottom → top quintile
42%
From bottom quintile
5%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Sacred Heart University?
Sacred Heart University's acceptance rate is approximately 65% (Fairfield, CT), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Sacred Heart University cost?
At Sacred Heart University, the average net price (after aid) is about $46,174 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Sacred Heart University?
Sacred Heart University enrolls approximately 7,087 undergraduate students.
Where is Sacred Heart University located?
Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT.
Admissions
SHU's admissions process is moderately selective, accepting 65% of its 16,495 applicants for the 2025-2026 cycle. The middle 50% of admitted students boast SAT scores between 1200–1330 (EBRW 612, Math 605) or ACT composites of 25–29, with an average high school GPA of 3.65. Notably Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight., the university draws undergrads from 45 states and D.C., prioritizing applicants who demonstrate academic consistency (54% of admits had GPAs above 3.75). The regular decision deadline is February 1.
Rooted in liberal arts but laser-focused on employability, SHU offers 50+ majors through nine colleges, with nursing dominating as the most popular (217 graduates annually). The curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning—88% of programs include first-year experiences, and 100% require discipline-specific writing. Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA in their major (no grades below C), with programs ranging from 30–58 credits. The Princeton Review ranks SHU top 10 nationally for student support, particularly in undergraduate research and creative projects.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$47,406
Business Administration, Management and Operations$43,922
Communication and Media Studies$33,993
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus vibes skew active and socially engaged, with 94% of students enrolled full-time. Over 100 clubs range from Model UN to campus ministries, while Greek life pulls significant participation. The university leans into its Catholic identity through service initiatives but maintains broad appeal—international students are explicitly encouraged to 'branch out' beyond their comfort zones. A hallmark SHU mantra: 'Do not stay in your room alone,' reflecting the administration's push for involvement through performing arts, intramural sports, and community partnerships.
SHU outperforms expectations with a 74% six-year graduation rate—well above the national average—and median earnings of $56,028 for recent grads. While early-career salaries average $47,000 (slightly below peer benchmarks), the university excels at funneling students into healthcare roles, particularly through its nursing program. Alumni typically carry $25,000 in debt, with 4.1 years being the average time to degree completion. The Career Center tracks outcomes rigorously, surveying graduates across all departments.
The sticker price hits $73,394 annually, but 54.57% of students receive financial aid, slashing the average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. to $47,890. Aid packages average $28,942, combining grants, scholarships (like the Pioneer Price program), and work-study. Families are advised to use SHU's net price calculator for personalized estimates, as policies favor need-based support—median debt at graduation is $25,000, below private college averages.
SHU carves a niche as a Catholic university that doesn't take itself too seriously—think theology majors cheering at D1 hockey games. Its nursing program acts as an employment pipeline, while the 10,000-strong student body (including grad students) creates a Goldilocks vibe: big enough for Big East athletics, small enough that professors track individual progress. The Fairfield location offers proximity to NYC internships without Manhattan prices, and the 74% graduation rate signals strong student support. For East Coasters seeking a balanced mix of piety and pragmatism, SHU delivers.
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