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PrivateSuburban

Sacred Heart University

SHU

Fairfield, Connecticut 06825-1000

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Campus Vibe

Mid-SizeSuburbanPrivateBusiness Focus

Strong graduate outcomes — known for health sciences

Sacred Heart University is a private institution in Fairfield with particular strength in health sciences and business.

A mid-sized campus of 6.9K undergraduates with a 16:1 student-faculty ratio. The suburban location offers a balance of campus life and nearby amenities.

75% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $75,059 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $45,459.

Established
1963
Motto
Inspiring Minds, Unleashing Hearts
Mascot
"Big Red" the Pioneer
Type
Private university
Division
Division I

Campus Visits

141 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Visit, Info Session
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Admission Office

5151 Park Avenue, Fairfield, CT 06825

(203) 371-7880[email protected]
Virtual Tour →Campus Map →
68%Acceptance
—SAT Avg
6,904Students
16:1Student:Faculty
75%Grad Rate
$75,059Earnings 10yr
$45,459Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Sacred Heart University Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate67.7%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions

Test-OptionalTracks InterestHolistic ReviewOn-Campus Interviews

Application Platforms

Common App

Early Decision (Binding)

November 15

Decision by December 15

Aid deadline: November 15

Early Decision II (Binding)

February 1

Decision by February 15

Early Action

November 15

Decision by December 15

Regular Decision

February 1

Decision by March 15

Reply by May 1

Sacred Heart University is test-optional for most applicants.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

67.7%

Trend

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Financial Aid

✓ Need-Blind✗ Meets 100% Need✓ Work-StudyMerit Scholarships
Students receiving aid
88%

Need-blind for domestic students.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$48,460
Room & Board$18,450
Books & Supplies$1,200
Total Cost of Attendance$66,669
Average Net Price$45,459
Median Debt at Graduation$25,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$265

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$37,374
$30–48K$38,526
$48–75K$43,128
$75–110K$47,177
$110K+$47,318

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

43.2%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$19,860

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

49

Peer Average

37

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

11

Burglary

2

Aggravated Assault

2

Robbery

4

Motor Vehicle Theft

6

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

14

Drug Arrests

10

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Academics

Core/Distribution RequirementsSemester
Majors
70
Avg class size
21
Student-faculty ratio
13:1
Study abroad
30%

Sacred Heart has a Catholic liberal arts core curriculum.

View all 23 majors›
AccountingAthletic TrainingBiologyBusinessChemistryCommunicationComputer ScienceCriminal JusticeEconomicsEducationEngineeringEnglishExercise ScienceFilm and TelevisionFinanceHealth ScienceHistoryMarketingMathematicsNursingPolitical SciencePsychologySocial Work

Programs (107)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

85%

Mixed
  • •85% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Campus Life

Campus size
300 acres
Organizations
80+
Varsity teams
32
NCAA Division INortheast Conference, MAAC, Hockey EastGreek Life

Division I athletics with strong programs in ice hockey, football, and lacrosse.

Housing & Residential Life

first-two-years
On campus
75%

Housing Styles

DoublesTriplesSuitesApartments

Dining

Outtakes CaféLinda E. McMahon CommonsJazzman'sChick-fil-ADietary Options

Student Body

Undergrads
6,904
Gender Split
64% / 36%
Women / Men
First Generation
23%
Pell Grant Recipients
15%

Race & Ethnicity

White 76%
Black 3%
Hispanic 13%
Asian 2%
Two+ 2%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate74.5%
Freshman Retention84.8%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$63,925
10 Years$75,059

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

After Graduation

Top Employers

People's United BankDeloittePwCESPNNBC Sports

Top Graduate Schools

Sacred Heart UniversityQuinnipiac UniversityUniversity of ConnecticutFairfield University

Rankings

U.S. News
#209
↓1
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

FencingIce hockeyTournamentVolleyball worldHockey conferenceHockey alliance

History & Fun Facts

  • •History Sacred Heart University was founded in 1963 by Walter W.
  • •Former American ambassador and Diplomat Thomas Patrick Melady served as president of the university from 1976 to 1986.
  • •In 1990, Sacred Heart built the first dorms, and began accepting residential students.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

ISP Long Island MacArthur30 mi
LGA New York LaGuardia45 mi
JFK New York JFK49 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA137 mi · ~3h 57m drive
New York, NY53 mi · ~1h 32m drive
Hartford, CT48 mi · ~1h 23m drive
Providence, RI103 mi · ~2h 59m drive
Albany, NY102 mi · ~2h 57m drive
Syracuse, NY195 mi · ~5h 38m drive
Rochester, NY260 mi · ~7h 31m drive
Buffalo, NY311 mi · ~8h 59m drive
Philadelphia, PA134 mi · ~3h 52m drive
Pittsburgh, PA357 mi · ~10h 19m drive
Harrisburg, PA202 mi · ~5h 50m drive
Newark, NJ59 mi · ~1h 42m drive
Trenton, NJ105 mi · ~3h 2m drive
Southern (moderate winters, warm summers)

Getting Around

Walkability

Suburban campus; shuttle service connects main campus to satellite locations.

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Long Island MacArthur (ISP)30 miles
Rental car
45 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
60 min$36-60
New York LaGuardia (LGA)45 miles
Rental car
68 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
90 min$54-90

Nearby Attractions

•

Long Island Sound

Beaches and waterfront recreation nearby.

•

Downtown Fairfield

Historic town center with shops and restaurants.

•

Bridgeport

Nearby city with dining and entertainment.

•

New York City

60 minutes by car or train for cultural attractions and internships.

Transfer Admission

Fall Transfer

July 15

Spring Transfer

December 1

Common App Transfer

International Students

✗ Need-Blind✗ Meets 100% Need
International students
7%

English Proficiency Requirements

TOEFL iBT75
IELTS Academic6.0
Duolingo English Test100

Deadline Calendar

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Sacred Heart University Application Checklist

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Decision Notifications

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