SHU vs. Marian

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Marian University in Indianapolis, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than Marian based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 3,486 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Marian University is in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Marian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Marian University 13:1.

SHU vs. Marian Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or Marian? 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 Marian University than SHU ($22,786 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Marian University are 27.6% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($13,850 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 24% more expensive for in-state tuition than Marian (about $9,740 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $40,664.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24% higher at SHU than at Marian University (about $9,740 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $40,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at Marian University (99% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Marian University students is 49.6% larger than aid received by Sacred Heart University students ($32,351 vs. $21,625).

SHU vs. Marian Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or Marian? 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 Marian and SHU.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; Marian - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Marian Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Marian students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at SHU (3.55).
• Marian has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 15.6% at Marian.

SHU vs. Marian Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and Marian? 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 Marian University's (58%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $14,900 more per year than Marian graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $44,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sacred Heart University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Marian graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, SHU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Marian graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Marian students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 57%)

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.