SHU vs. St. Thomas Aquinas College

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than St. Thomas Aquinas College based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 2,037 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); St. Thomas Aquinas College is in Sparkill, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. St. Thomas Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; St. Thomas Aquinas College 16:1.

SHU vs. St. Thomas Aquinas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or St. Thomas Aquinas 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 St. Thomas Aquinas College than SHU ($21,187 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St. Thomas Aquinas College are 5.5% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($18,080 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 27.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than St. Thomas Aquinas College (about $10,954 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $39,450.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.8% higher at SHU than at St. Thomas Aquinas College (about $10,954 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $39,450.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at St. Thomas Aquinas College than at Sacred Heart University (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St. Thomas Aquinas College students is 44.4% larger than aid received by Sacred Heart University students ($31,233 vs. $21,625).

SHU vs. St. Thomas Aquinas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or St. Thomas Aquinas 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 St. Thomas Aquinas College and SHU.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSt. Thomas Aquinas College 880/1085.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; St. Thomas Aquinas College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: St. Thomas Aquinas College May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.55 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at St. Thomas Aquinas College (3.0).
• St. Thomas Aquinas College has a higher acceptance rate (93%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 11.8% at St. Thomas Aquinas College.

SHU vs. St. Thomas Aquinas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and St. Thomas Aquinas 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 St. Thomas Aquinas College's (58%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $11,700 more per year than St. Thomas Aquinas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $48,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, St. Thomas Aquinas College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($22,500 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, St. Thomas Aquinas College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHU graduates ($232 vs. $258).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Thomas Aquinas College students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 71%)

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.