SHU vs. Maine College of Art & Design

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Maine College of Art & Design in Portland, ME on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than Maine College of Art & Design based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 475 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Maine College of Art & Design is in Portland, ME (Small City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Maine College of Art & Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Maine College of Art & Design 8:1.

SHU vs. Maine College of Art & Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or Maine College of Art & Design? 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 Maine College of Art & Design than SHU ($39,639 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Maine College of Art & Design are 10.2% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($17,184 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 17.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Maine College of Art & Design (about $7,462 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $42,942.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.4% higher at SHU than at Maine College of Art & Design (about $7,462 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $42,942.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Maine College of Art & Design than at Sacred Heart University (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 6.6% larger than aid received by Maine College of Art & Design students ($21,625 vs. $20,277).

SHU vs. Maine College of Art & Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or Maine College of Art & Design? 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 Maine College of Art & Design and SHU.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; Maine College of Art & Design - Test-free.
• Maine College of Art & Design has a higher acceptance rate (76.1%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 16.1% at Maine College of Art & Design.

SHU vs. Maine College of Art & Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and Maine College of Art & Design? 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 Maine College of Art & Design's (42%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $28,100 more per year than Maine College of Art & Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $31,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sacred Heart University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Maine College of Art & Design graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, SHU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Maine College of Art & Design graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Maine College of Art & Design students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 70%)

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.