Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Sacred Heart University #1135 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,640 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 68.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Sacred Heart University sits in the 86.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Sacred Heart University's composite ranking reflects strong financial outcomes balanced with broad program access. The institution's earnings performance places it among the top private four-year institutions nationally for both expected and actual graduate outcomes.
Azimuth ranks Sacred Heart University #1135 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Fairfield, CT, Sacred Heart University enrolls roughly 7,087 undergraduates. Retention is 83.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 73.5%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Where Sacred Heart University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Sacred Heart University #260 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $79,431. The institution's dominant program family is Business, which anchors the earnings profile and reflects the school's academic focus. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Sacred Heart University sits in the 39.0 percentile for access and the 2.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a private institution, the sticker price is higher than at public universities, though need-based aid reshapes net cost for families that qualify. Mobility outcomes place the institution in the 36.7 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting how well graduates transition into sustainable careers relative to peer institutions.
Published cost of attendance is $69,289. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $38,691, middle-income families pay around $41,647, higher-income families pay approximately $48,217. Azimuth ranks Sacred Heart University #1397 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 2.0 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $45,486. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $79,431, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Sacred Heart University is a fit for students who want a private nonprofit four-year option in CT and are weighing outcomes against cost. Azimuth ranks Sacred Heart University #1135 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $79,431, placing Sacred Heart University in the 86.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,640 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 68.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Published cost of attendance is $69,289. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $38,691, middle-income families pay around $41,647, higher-income families pay approximately $48,217. Students should weigh those current cost and earnings figures against the school's program mix before treating the fit as primarily an earnings, affordability, or access story.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Sacred Heart University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Published cost of attendance is $69,289. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $38,691, middle-income families pay around $41,647, higher-income families pay approximately $48,217.
Azimuth ranks Sacred Heart University #1397 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 2.0 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $45,486.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $79,431, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Graduates of Sacred Heart University earn median 4-year earnings of $79,431, placing Sacred Heart University in the 86.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,640 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Sacred Heart University in the 68.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Sacred Heart University #260 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Sacred Heart University's concentration in business and professional fields.
Nursing is the largest program with 190 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $103,244, at 1.2x the national benchmark for the field. The Business Administration program graduates 148 students with median 4-year earnings of $74,883, performing at 1.1x the CIP benchmark.
Finance and Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences round out the top programs, with Finance delivering median 4-year earnings of $94,733 at 1.1x benchmark performance. The concentration in Business — the institution's dominant program family — supports consistent outcomes across the graduate cohort and aligns with employer demand in the Connecticut and broader Northeast labor markets.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
190 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
114 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
26 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
82 graduates
Economics
25 graduates
Sacred Heart University's program mix centers on business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a career-focused private university in Connecticut. Nursing is the largest program with 190 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Research Psychology, Finance, and Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences.
The Business concentration — anchored in accounting, finance, management, and related applied-professional fields — aligns with the university's positioning in a region with strong corporate and financial-services employment. The highest-earning programs cluster in finance and accounting.
Nursing graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $103,244 with 190 graduates, while Finance delivers $94,733 for 114 graduates. Accounting and Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions follow with median 4-year earnings of $91,777 and $76,507 respectively, signaling consistent strength across business-adjacent fields.
These programs reflect direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter accounting, finance, and management roles immediately after enrollment. Nursing, the institution's largest program, generates median 4-year earnings of $103,244, demonstrating that scale and earnings strength align at Sacred Heart University.
The concentration in applied business and professional services — rather than broad liberal arts — creates a coherent labor-market story: graduates move into stable, in-demand roles in accounting, finance, business administration, and related fields where Connecticut's regional economy provides consistent employer recruitment. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) framework provides context for how these dominant program families align with national wage trends and hiring demand.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
St. John's University-New York Higher acceptance rate (18.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 45 miles away; similar median earnings four years after completion | NY | 83% | $77,868 | Compare |
Fairfield University Same state (4 miles away) (earnings difference: 15%) and similar program focus; same institution type | CT | 33% | $91,378 | Compare |
Albertus Magnus College Similar admission rate (6 percentage points difference) with similar program focus; located 18 miles away | CT | 59% | $63,088 | Compare |
Yeshiva University 18.1% higher median earnings four years after completion with similar cost and similar program focus; located 44 miles away | NY | 56% | $93,796 | Compare |
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College 93.4% lower net price with nearly identical earnings and similar program focus; located 51 miles away | NY | 48% | $82,748 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pace University Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $80804 versus $79431; same region (Northeast) | NY | 76% | $80,804 | #443 |
Quinnipiac University Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $84363 versus $79431; same region (Northeast) | CT | 72% | $84,363 | #850 | Compare |
Hofstra University Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $72921 versus $79431; same region (Northeast) | NY | 68% | $72,921 | #889 | Compare |
Seton Hall University Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $76919 versus $79431; same region (Northeast) | NJ | 73% | $76,919 | #446 | Compare |
Marist University Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $78561 versus $79431; same region (Northeast) | NY | 57% | $78,561 | #992 | Compare |
