SHU vs. Fisher College

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Fisher College in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than Fisher College based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 1,652 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Fisher College is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Fisher College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Fisher College 14:1.

SHU vs. Fisher College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or Fisher College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fisher College than SHU ($28,596 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fisher College are 5.7% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($18,041 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 41.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fisher College (about $14,715 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $35,689.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 41.2% higher at SHU than at Fisher College (about $14,715 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $35,689.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at Fisher College (99% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fisher College students is 17.4% larger than aid received by Sacred Heart University students ($25,379 vs. $21,625).

SHU vs. Fisher College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or Fisher College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Fisher College and SHU.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsFisher College 800/1070.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsFisher College 15/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; Fisher College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.83 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Fisher College (2.72).
• Fisher College has a higher acceptance rate (70.7%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 6.1% at Fisher College.

SHU vs. Fisher College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and Fisher College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Sacred Heart University's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Fisher College's (48%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $23,700 more per year than Fisher College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fisher College graduates have a $5,813 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($19,187 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Fisher College graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHU graduates ($198 vs. $258).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fisher College students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.