Sacred Heart University

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Quick Stats
5151 Park Avenue

Fairfield, CT 06825

[map]
Phone: (203) 371-7999
2012-2013 Tuition
$33,905
tuition and fees
Students
4,173
enrolled
37%
male /
63%
female
Admissions
rolling admission
53.7%
accepted

More Information

_

U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category
U.S. News rank Category Name
#38 Regional Universities (North)

More About U.S. News Rankings

Summary

Sacred Heart University is a private institution that was founded in 1963. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,173, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 71 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Sacred Heart University's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities (North), 38. Its tuition and fees are $33,905 (2012-13).

School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school):

Characterized by the personal attention it provides its students, Sacred Heart University (SHU) in Fairfield, Connecticut is an independent, comprehensive liberal arts university in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. With more than 45 academic programs for undergraduate, masters, and doctoral students in the arts, sciences, business, education, and health professions, Sacred Heart is nationally recognized for its commitment to academic excellence, cutting-edge technology, championship Division I athletic teams, and award-winning community service program. Fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), SHU is the second-largest Catholic university in New England and the first in America to be led and staffed by lay people. A vibrant residential University with 3,500 full-time undergraduates and more than 6,000 total undergraduate and graduate students, undergraduate academic programs are housed in five distinctive colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, AACSB-accredited John F. Welch College of Business, NCATE-accredited Isabelle Farrington College of Education, the College of Health Professions and University College. Sacred Heart is dedicated to the holistic development of its students through active, engaged learning that educates the whole person. Hands-on learning through research, internships, clinical placements, service learning and study abroad programs encourages students to apply their skills and knowledge outside the classroom, contributing to an exemplary 96% job and graduate school placement rate for graduating seniors. The University's campus location offers the best of both worlds: a safe, suburban campus located on 71 acres in beautiful Fairfield, Connecticut and a central location between the urban centers of New York City (55 miles) and Boston, MA (150 miles). With guaranteed housing for four years and over 93% of first-year students residing on campus, the atmosphere at SHU is an intimate residential campus with easily accessible academic and student life facilities. Among the largest Division I intercollegiate athletics programs in the country, the Pioneers compete in more than 30 varsity sports. Along with 24 intercollegiate club sports and an array of intramural offerings, SHU's rich student life program features performing arts groups (band, chorale, and theatre arts), media groups, spirit groups, national Greek letter organizations, community service organizations, ministry groups, leadership programs, student governance groups, multicultural organizations, and academic honor societies. Serving those in need is an integral part of the University mission, and SHU students, faculty, and staff contribute over 46,000 hours of volunteer service to the local, national, and international communities each year. Several special programs enhance the undergraduate learning experience. The unique Major in Success program offered through the Career Development and Placement Center provides individual and group career counseling to help students identify and match their talents, interests, and values with research on corresponding majors and careers. Undergraudate students in the John F. Welch College of Business participate in The Welch Experience, an integrated professional and academic program which includes experiential learning opportunities such as internships and study abroad, career planning, advising and mentoring programs, and research opportunities. Thomas More Honors Program students enjoy a student-directed learning experience featuring experiential learning opportunities that extend beyond the customary classroom environment while earning an 18-credit minor in Honors. In addition, the University has international campuses in Luxembourg and Ireland which demonstrate a commitment to global education, and along with dozens of other University-approved sites, provide students with seamless opportunities to study abroad year-round and worldwide.

General Information

School type private, coed college
Year founded 1963
Religious affiliation Roman Catholic
Academic calendar semester
Setting suburban
2011 Endowment $109,407,567

Applying

When applying to Sacred Heart University, it's important to note the application deadline is rolling, and the early decision deadline is November 15. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due March 31. The application fee at Sacred Heart University is $50. It is selective, with an acceptance rate of 53.7 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

Selectivity selective
Fall 2011 acceptance rate 53.7%
Application deadline rolling
SAT/ACT scores must be received by March 31

More About Applying

Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at Sacred Heart University is 14:1, and the school has 43.9 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Sacred Heart University include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other; Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other; Psychology; and Social Sciences, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 78.5 percent.

Class sizes
Class sizes
Student-faculty ratio 14:1
4-year graduation rate 61
Five most popular majors for 2011 graduates
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other 33%
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other 19%
Psychology 14%
Social Sciences, General 5%

More About Academic Life

Student Life

Sacred Heart University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,173, with a gender distribution of 37.4 percent male students and 62.6 percent female students. At this school, 60.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 40.0 percent of students live off campus. Sacred Heart University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.

See what students are saying about life at Sacred Heart University.

Total enrollment 6,407
Student gender distribution
Student gender distribution
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity
Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority
Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority
Collegiate athletic association NCAA I

More About Student Life

Campus Info & Services

Sacred Heart University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, health service, and health insurance. Sacred Heart University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Sacred Heart University, 60 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Sacred Heart University.

Students who have cars on campus 60%
Health insurance offered Yes
Students required to own/lease a computer Yes

More About Campus Info & Services

Paying for School

At Sacred Heart University, 73.4 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $13,718.

Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

Tuition and fees $33,905 (2012-13)
Room and board $13,230 (2012-13)
Financial aid statistics
Financial aid statistics

More About Paying for School

* Overview details based on 2011 data

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