Colorado College vs. SHU

Should I go to Colorado College or Sacred Heart University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colorado College or SHU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Colorado College vs. Sacred Heart University comparison
Colorado College Sacred Heart University College 3 College 4
Colorado College Sacred Heart University
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Overview

Colorado College SHU
Location Colorado Springs, CO Fairfield, CT
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,173 11,179
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #72
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website coloradocollege.edu sacredheart.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colorado College SHU
Tuition (In State) $67,458 $48,160
Tuition (Out of State) $67,458 $48,160
Room & Board $15,228 $18,450
Avg Net Price $35,281 $46,165
Avg Grant Aid $47,947 $20,597
% Receiving Grant Aid 56% 99%

Admission

Colorado College SHU
Applied 7,532 14,284
Admitted 1,509 9,667
Acceptance Rate 20% 67.7%
Enrolled % 34.3% 19.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.98 3.55
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Unavailable
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 31/34
SAT Range 1365/1520
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2026

Academics

Colorado College SHU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Business (36%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Colorado College SHU
Graduation Rate 88% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,000 $59,700
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $211 $258

Diversity

Colorado College SHU
% Men 0% 15%
% Women 1% 23%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 64% 71%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 9% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 9% 2%
% International 7% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 12%

Students

Colorado College SHU
% In-State 19% 22%
% Out-of-State 77% 77%

Campus

Colorado College SHU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Sacred Heart University is larger than than Colorado College based on total student enrollment (11,179 students vs. 2,173 students)

Colorado College vs. SHU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colorado College or SHU?

  • Colorado College is 40.1% more expensive to attend than SHU for in-state tuition ($67,458.00 vs. $48,160.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40.1% higher at Colorado College than Sacred Heart University ($67,458.00 vs. $48,160.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colorado College than SHU ($35,281 vs. $46,165)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colorado College are 21.2% lower than costs at Sacred Heart University ($15,228 vs. $18,450)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sacred Heart University than Colorado College (99% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado College students is 132.8% larger than aid received Sacred Heart University ($47,947 vs. $20,597)

Colorado College vs. SHU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colorado College or SHU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SHU or Colorado College .

  • Accepted freshman Colorado College students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at SHU (3.55)
  • SHU has a higher acceptance rate (67.7%) than Colorado College (20%)

Colorado College vs. SHU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colorado College or SHU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SHU and Colorado College.

  • The graduation rate at Colorado College is higher than Sacred Heart University (88% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn on average $13,700 more per year than Colorado College graduates after ten years. ($59,700 vs. $46,000)
  • Colorado College students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than SHU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,000)
  • Colorado College graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than SHU graduates. ($211 vs. $258)
  • More Colorado College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SHU students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 76%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/