SHU vs. Maria College of Albany

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Maria College of Albany in Albany, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than Maria College of Albany based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 722 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Maria College of Albany is in Albany, NY (Small City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Maria College of Albany is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Maria College of Albany 6:1.

SHU vs. Maria College of Albany Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or Maria College of Albany? 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 Maria College of Albany than SHU ($16,254 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Maria College of Albany are 50.4% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($9,500 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 169% more expensive for in-state tuition than Maria College of Albany (about $31,664 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $18,740.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 169% higher at SHU than at Maria College of Albany (about $31,664 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $18,740.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at Maria College of Albany (99% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 107.8% larger than aid received by Maria College of Albany students ($21,625 vs. $10,405).

SHU vs. Maria College of Albany Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or Maria College of Albany? 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 Maria College of Albany and SHU.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMaria College of Albany 965/1095.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; Maria College of Albany - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 1.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Maria College of Albany (2.5).
• SHU has a higher acceptance rate (65.4%) than Maria College of Albany (44.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 28.3% at Maria College of Albany.

SHU vs. Maria College of Albany Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and Maria College of Albany? 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).

• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $16,300 more per year than Maria College of Albany graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $43,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Maria College of Albany graduates have a $4,882 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($20,118 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Maria College of Albany graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHU graduates ($208 vs. $258).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Maria College of Albany 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.