SHU vs. TESC

Deciding between Sacred Heart University and Thomas Edison State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Sacred Heart University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • SHU Fairfield, CT
  • TESC Trenton, NJ
  • Setting
  • SHU Large Suburban
  • TESC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • SHU 11,022
  • TESC 7,544
  • Type
  • SHU Private 4 Year
  • TESC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SHU
  • TESC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SHU Roman Catholic
  • TESC -
  • Status
  • SHU Non-profit
  • TESC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SHU
  • TESC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SHU $50,404
  • TESC $6,838
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SHU $50,404
  • TESC $8,856
  • Room & Board
  • SHU $19,140
  • TESC $5,170
  • Average Net Price
  • SHU $47,848
  • TESC -
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SHU $21,625
  • TESC $0
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SHU 99%
  • TESC 0%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SHU 16,495
  • TESC -
  • Admitted
  • SHU 10,781
  • TESC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SHU 65.4%
  • TESC Open
  • Enrolled
  • SHU 17.5%
  • TESC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • SHU
  • TESC
  • Typical ACT score
  • SHU
  • TESC
  • Average High School GPA
  • SHU 3.55
  • TESC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SHU A-
  • TESC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • SHU Unavailable
  • TESC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • SHU Low
  • TESC
  • ACT Range
  • SHU
  • TESC
  • SAT Range
  • SHU
  • TESC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SHU Test-free
  • TESC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • SHU
  • TESC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SHU 15:1
  • TESC 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SHU
    • Business (36%)
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • TESC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (27%)
    • General Studies (24%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SHU 68%
  • TESC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SHU $59,700
  • TESC $57,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SHU 76%
  • TESC 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SHU $25,000
  • TESC $10,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SHU $258
  • TESC $111

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SHU 36%
  • TESC 59%
  • % Women
  • SHU 64%
  • TESC 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SHU Low
  • TESC High
  • HBCU
  • SHU No
  • TESC No
  • % White
  • SHU 71%
  • TESC 52%
  • % Asian
  • SHU 2%
  • TESC 4%
  • % Black
  • SHU 4%
  • TESC 15%
  • % Hispanic
  • SHU 8%
  • TESC 9%
  • % Native American
  • SHU 0%
  • TESC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SHU 0%
  • TESC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SHU 2%
  • TESC 2%
  • % International
  • SHU 1%
  • TESC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SHU 12%
  • TESC 15%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SHU 23%
  • TESC -
  • % Out-of-State
  • SHU 76%
  • TESC -

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • SHU Yes
  • TESC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • SHU No
  • TESC No
  • Meal Plan
  • SHU Yes
  • TESC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • SHU Yes
  • TESC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • SHU No
  • TESC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Thomas Edison State University in Trenton, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than TESC based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 7,544 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Thomas Edison State University is in Trenton, NJ (Small City setting).
  • Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Thomas Edison State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Thomas Edison State University 20:1.

SHU vs. TESC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or TESC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas Edison State University are 73% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($5,170 vs. $19,140).
  • Sacred Heart University is 637.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than TESC (about $43,566 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $6,838.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 469.2% higher at SHU than at Thomas Edison State University (about $41,548 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $8,856.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at Thomas Edison State University (99% vs. 0%).

SHU vs. TESC Admissions comparison

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

  • Thomas Edison State University reports an open admissions policy.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; TESC - Open admission.

SHU vs. TESC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and TESC? 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).

  • Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than TESC graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $57,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Thomas Edison State University graduates have a $14,250 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($10,750 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, TESC graduates have an estimated $147 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHU graduates ($111 vs. $258).
  • More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TESC students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 53%)

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.