Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Fairfield University Marist College Quinnipiac University of Bridgeport RIC Siena College Loyola University Maryland Salve Regina University UConn Stonehill College University of Connecticut-Avery Point Bryant University| Sacred Heart University | Nichols College | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
SHU | Nichols | ||
| Location | Fairfield, CT | Dudley, MA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 10,721 | 1,403 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #926 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | sacredheart.edu | nichols.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
SHU | Nichols | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $46,310 | $37,150 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $46,310 | $37,150 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,520 | $14,110 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $45,280 | $27,192 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $19,484 | $26,515 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
SHU | Nichols | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 13,316 | 2,358 | ||
| Admitted | 8,750 | 2,001 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 65.7% | 84.9%Open | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.3% | 15.8%Open | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.55 | 2.9 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | 945/1180 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline |
Academics |
SHU | Nichols | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 16:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
SHU | Nichols | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 43% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,700 | $51,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 76% | 68% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $279 |
Diversity |
SHU | Nichols | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 35% | 63% | ||
| % Women | 65% | 37% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 71% | 81% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 12% | 0% |
Students |
SHU | Nichols | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 23% | 57% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 75% | 40% | ||
Campus |
SHU | Nichols | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Sacred Heart University is larger than than Nichols based on total student enrollment (10,721 students vs. 1,403 students)
SHU vs. Nichols Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, SHU or Nichols?
- Sacred Heart University is 24.7% more expensive to attend than Nichols for in-state tuition ($46,310.00 vs. $37,150.00)
- Out of state tuition is 24.7% higher at SHU than Nichols College ($46,310.00 vs. $37,150.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Nichols College than SHU ($27,192 vs. $45,280)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Nichols College are 24.2% lower than costs at Sacred Heart University ($14,110 vs. $17,520)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Nichols College than Sacred Heart University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Nichols College students is 36.1% larger than aid received Sacred Heart University ($26,515 vs. $19,484)
SHU vs. Nichols Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, SHU or Nichols? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Nichols or SHU .
- Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.65 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Nichols (2.9)
- Nichols has a higher acceptance rate (84.9%) than SHU (65.7%)
SHU vs. Nichols Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, SHU or Nichols? 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 Nichols and SHU.
- The graduation rate at SHU is higher than Nichols College (68% vs. 43%)
- Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn on average $7,900 more per year than Nichols graduates after ten years. ($59,700 vs. $51,800)
- Sacred Heart University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Nichols graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
- SHU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Nichols graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
- More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nichols students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 68%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/