SHU vs. Trinity College

Comparable Facts

Compare Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with Trinity Washington University in Washington, DC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sacred Heart University is larger than Trinity College based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 1,948 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sacred Heart University is located in Fairfield, CT (Large Suburban setting); Trinity Washington University is in Washington, DC (Large City setting).
• Sacred Heart University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Trinity Washington University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sacred Heart University 15:1; Trinity Washington University 9:1.

SHU vs. Trinity College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or Trinity 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 Trinity Washington University than SHU ($11,755 vs. $47,848).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Trinity Washington University are 36.4% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($12,180 vs. $19,140).
• Sacred Heart University is 89.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Trinity College (about $23,794 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $26,610.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 89.4% higher at SHU than at Trinity Washington University (about $23,794 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $26,610.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at Trinity Washington University (99% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Trinity Washington University students is 3.5% larger than aid received by Sacred Heart University students ($22,386 vs. $21,625).

SHU vs. Trinity College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHU or Trinity College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Trinity College and SHU.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; Trinity College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Trinity College Mar 1, 2027.
• Trinity College has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than SHU (65.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 20.2% at Trinity College.

SHU vs. Trinity College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and Trinity College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Sacred Heart University's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Trinity Washington University's (45%).
• Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $18,300 more per year than Trinity College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $41,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sacred Heart University graduates have a $6,649 lower median loan debt than Trinity College graduates ($25,000 vs. $31,649).
• Among borrowers, SHU graduates have an estimated $69 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Trinity College graduates ($258 vs. $327).
• More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Trinity College students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 33%)

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.