SHU vs. Penn College

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than Penn College based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 4,575 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Pennsylvania College of Technology is in Williamsport, PA (Small City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Technology is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Pennsylvania College of Technology 14:1.

SHU vs. Penn College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or Penn 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 Pennsylvania College of Technology than SHU ($23,675 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania College of Technology are 33% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($12,818 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 176.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn College (about $32,164 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $18,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 94% higher at SHU than at Pennsylvania College of Technology (about $24,424 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $25,980.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at Pennsylvania College of Technology (99% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 141.2% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania College of Technology students ($21,625 vs. $8,964).

SHU vs. Penn College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or Penn 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 Penn College and SHU.

• Pennsylvania College of Technology reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; Penn College - Open admission.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Penn College (3.05).

SHU vs. Penn College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and Penn 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 Pennsylvania College of Technology's (42%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $15,300 more per year than Penn College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $44,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania College of Technology graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($21,500 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHU graduates ($222 vs. $258).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn College students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 65%)

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.