Sacred Heart University
Fairfield, Connecticut · Private Nonprofit · 65.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 66/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Sacred Heart University is a medium-sized private nonprofit Catholic university in Fairfield, Connecticut, enrolling approximately 7,087 students. Its overall ROI score of 66 places it in the Fair Value tier, a reasonable outcome for a private university in one of the nation's most expensive states. Tuition of $50,404 and net price of $46,174 are high - among the highest of any school in this dataset - but median ten-year earnings of $75,059 and a 73.5% completion rate provide meaningful offsets. The 8.1-year payback period is respectable for a private Connecticut university. The institution's main financial liability is the weak earnings premium subscore (46 out of 100), suggesting graduates do not dramatically outperform the regional workforce on average, weighed down by lower-earning programs in communications, liberal arts, and allied health. Nursing is a standout, with graduates earning $90,830 one year out. Sacred Heart's proximity to New York City and the Fairfield County professional corridor provides real but hard-to-quantify network value for students who establish careers in finance, healthcare, and media.
Sacred Heart University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $50,404/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $50,404/yr |
| Average net price | $46,174/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $184,696 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $75,059 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $47,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 73.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,087 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $50,404/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $46,174/year, or roughly $184,696 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $38,691/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $48,217/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $25,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $75,059 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.53, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $38,691 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $40,517 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $41,647 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $46,348 |
| $110,001+ | $48,217 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from families earning under $30,000 face a net price of $38,691 - very high for a need-based population. Grant aid at Sacred Heart does not dramatically reduce the sticker price for the lowest-income students, which is atypical for a university of this type. Low-income students who qualify for nursing or finance should compare this offer carefully against University of Connecticut or other public options where need-based aid yields a far lower net price.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income students ($48,001 - $75,000) pay $41,647 - only modestly less than lower-income brackets, suggesting limited additional aid for this group. At this level, the investment is justifiable primarily for students in nursing, finance, or accounting, where four-year earnings clear $90,000. Students entering general business or liberal arts face a challenging ROI at this price point.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income students ($110,000-plus) pay $48,217, close to list price. For families at this income level, the Catholic residential university environment and Fairfield County location are the primary decision factors; the financial case is weakest at this price tier unless the student enters a high-earning program like nursing, finance, or accounting.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Sacred Heart University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $103,244 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $74,883 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $94,733 | C+ |
| Marketing | $73,514 | C |
| Accounting | $91,777 | B |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $76,507 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $59,068 | D |
| Biology | $72,404 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $55,710 | C |
| Economics | $80,970 | B+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is Sacred Heart's flagship ROI program. With 252 annual graduates earning $90,830 one year out and $103,244 at four years, it delivers some of the strongest early-career income of any nursing program in New England. Against $27,000 in median debt, the ratio of 0.30 earns a B+ grade. The program's scale and outcomes make it the primary financial justification for the university's high net price.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance graduates earn $56,081 one year out, climbing to $94,733 at four years - a strong four-year trajectory reflecting career progression in the Fairfield County and New York financial services industry. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 earns a C+ grade against $27,000 in median debt. The location advantage for finance careers is real: proximity to Greenwich hedge funds and New York banking creates internship and recruitment pipelines unavailable at inland private universities.
Accounting
Accounting is one of Sacred Heart's more financially attractive non-nursing programs. One-year earnings of $60,375 reflect strong CPA-track placement, with four-year earnings reaching $91,777. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45 earns a B grade. The 87 annual graduates benefit from the regional concentration of public accounting firms and corporate finance offices in the Stamford - New York corridor.
Economics
Economics is a relatively small program with 32 graduates producing strong four-year outcomes of $80,970. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 earns a B+ grade - the best ratio among Sacred Heart's programs. The earnings trajectory likely reflects graduates entering financial services or graduate school, capitalizing on the university's proximity to the NYC financial corridor. Small cohort sizes mean individual outcomes will vary.
Communication and Media Studies
Communications graduates earn just $28,884 one year out and $59,068 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.91 earns a D grade - among the weakest in Sacred Heart's portfolio. Students pursuing communications face a difficult first few years after graduation relative to the institution's high net price. Those committed to media careers should investigate internship placement rates and specific employer connections before enrolling.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 79.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 82.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 81.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 82.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Sacred Heart University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 65.4% |
| Enrollment | 7,087 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 15.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,014 |
Sacred Heart admitted 65% of applicants, making it moderately selective among private Connecticut universities. No SAT or ACT score ranges are currently published, suggesting a test-optional or test-flexible policy. The university has grown rapidly and professionalizes its admissions process. Financial aid packaging varies substantially - prospective students should compare finalized net price offers before committing, as the nominal average of $46,174 includes a wide range of individual outcomes.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Sacred Heart's listed peers include Hofstra University and Chapman University - similarly priced regional private universities with strong professional programs. Hofstra's New York location and law school feed different career pipelines. Chapman in California serves a West Coast market. Among Connecticut private universities, Sacred Heart occupies a middle tier below Yale and Wesleyan but above smaller liberal arts colleges. Its 82% three-year repayment rate is solid and roughly in line with peer-group averages, suggesting graduates are managing debt responsibly despite the high sticker price.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacred Heart University (this school) | 66 | $46,174 | $75,059 |
| Hofstra University | 65 | $34,176 | $69,039 |
| Chapman University | 64 | $46,555 | $70,070 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global | 61 | $16,898 | $59,986 |
| Albertus Magnus College | 39 | $34,028 | $60,144 |
| University of Bridgeport | 27 | $27,807 | $50,323 |
Who Thrives Here
Sacred Heart attracts students seeking a traditional residential Catholic university experience in the affluent Fairfield County corridor, with strong nursing, business, and finance programs. The 16% Pell rate reflects a predominantly middle- and upper-income student body. Students focused on nursing, finance, or accounting will see the clearest financial returns at this price point. Liberal arts and communications students face a harder calculus and should carefully evaluate career pathways before committing to nearly $185,000 in total four-year costs.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Sacred Heart University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $46,174 a year after aid ($184,696 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $75,059 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.1 years to earn back. That's roughly average - not a bargain, not a mistake.
What it has going for it: its 73.5% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $25,000 against $75,059 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.