SHU vs. SUNY-Potsdam

Comparable Facts

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

Sacred Heart University is larger than SUNY-Potsdam based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 2,832 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); SUNY College at Potsdam is in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY College at Potsdam is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; SUNY College at Potsdam 11:1.

SHU vs. SUNY-Potsdam Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or SUNY-Potsdam? 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 SUNY College at Potsdam than SHU ($13,730 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY College at Potsdam are 20.2% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($15,280 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 474.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY-Potsdam (about $41,636 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $8,768.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 169.9% higher at SHU than at SUNY College at Potsdam (about $31,726 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $18,678.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at SUNY College at Potsdam (99% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 94% larger than aid received by SUNY College at Potsdam students ($21,625 vs. $11,147).

SHU vs. SUNY-Potsdam Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or SUNY-Potsdam? 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 SUNY-Potsdam and SHU.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; SUNY-Potsdam - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at SUNY-Potsdam (3.3).
• SUNY-Potsdam has a higher acceptance rate (77.7%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 10% at SUNY-Potsdam.

SHU vs. SUNY-Potsdam Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and SUNY-Potsdam? 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 SUNY College at Potsdam's (51%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $20,600 more per year than SUNY-Potsdam graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, SUNY College at Potsdam and SHU graduates have the same median loan debt ($25,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, SUNY College at Potsdam and SHU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($258 vs. $258).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY-Potsdam students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 60%)

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.