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Sacred Heart University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Fairfield, CT · 7,087 students

The verdict

Sacred Heart University charges a net price of $46,174/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $184,696. Graduates earn a median $75,059 ten years after entry, $26,699/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 6.9 years — a 20-year net return of $349,284, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Sacred Heart University's 6.9-year payback ranks #611 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 52% of them, and #15 of 36 in Connecticut.

Better ROI than 52% of US colleges#611 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$46,174
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$75,059
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
6.9 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
65%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Sacred Heart University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$46,174/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$184,696our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$75,059Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$26,699/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$25,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback6.9 yrsour math
20-year net return$349,284our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Sacred Heart University's own numbers. Net price $46,174 × 4 years = $184,696 total. Median earnings $75,059 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $26,699 a year of premium. $184,696 ÷ $26,699 = 6.9 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $349,284. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do Sacred Heart University students graduate with?

A median $25,000 in federal loans among completers, or 33% of the $75,059 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Sacred Heart University students graduate?

73% finish their degree. Spread the $184,696 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $253,008 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Sacred Heart University expensive compared with other Connecticut colleges?

Its $46,174 net price runs $20,123 above the $26,052 median across the 36 Connecticut colleges we profile, or $80,490 more across the full degree.

Sacred Heart University: frequently asked questions

Is Sacred Heart University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Sacred Heart University charges $46,174/yr after aid ($184,696 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $75,059 ten years out — $26,699/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 6.9 years and returns $349,284 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a Sacred Heart University degree take to pay off?
About 6.9 years. We divide the $184,696 four-year net cost by the $26,699/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Sacred Heart University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $46,174/yr — about $184,696 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Sacred Heart University compare to other Connecticut colleges?
It ranks #15 of 36 Connecticut colleges we track by payback. Its $75,059 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $46,174 net price is above the national median of $16,902.