VIBRANT COMMUNITIES
SHU’s academic and experiential learning opportunities are complemented by a rich student life program offering over 80 student organizations including performing arts programs, media groups, national Greek organizations, intramural and club sports, service organizations, leadership programs, and academic honor societies…
SHU’s beautiful, suburban campus houses a vibrant residential life community, two state-of-the-art fitness centers, cafés, eateries, and lounges for study and relaxation. Cultural events abound on campus, including live entertainment and poetry nights featured weekly at the Holy Grounds Café, the Student Affairs Lecture Series which brings renowned guest speakers to campus, and professional-quality theatrical, musical, and dance performances at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts. Drawing on the rich resources of New England and New York City (just 55 miles south of SHU), students are immersed in enriching activities including group events in NYC such as Broadway shows, and annual trips to historical Philadelphia and Washington, DC.
In addition to its aforementioned award-winning community service program, SHU’s robust school spirit is characterized by the University’s successful Division I intercollegiate athletics program with 31 varsity sports and more than 800 student-athletes. In 2008-09, Sacred Heart University had the most successful competitive season of any school in the history of the Northeast Conference (NEC), winning five league championships and taking the men’s, women’s, and overall “NEC Commissioner’s Cup” titles. In addition to varsity athletics, nearly 500 students participate on more than 20 club sport teams, competing against the junior varsity and club teams of colleges and universities across the region.
SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES
With a 96% average job placement rate, Sacred Heart University graduates are highly successful in their respective professional fields, and are quick to be hired by Fortune 500 and 1000 companies, school systems, non-profit agencies, and small and large businesses alike…
Most SHU graduates ultimately receive advanced degrees, with roughly 40% of each graduating class continuing directly on for Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Education, Law, and Doctoral degrees upon graduation. Pre-professional programs in Medicine, Dentistry, Law, Optometry, Pharmacy, Osteopathy, Physician’s Assistant, and Veterinary Science prepare students for the rigorous application process to these respective graduate programs. In addition, all students interested in pursuing graduate studies receive advisement from their academic departments and the Career Development Center.
To ensure students are on the path to success, the University offers students the opportunity to participate in its innovative “Major in Success” program run by the Career Development Center. Known as “MIS,” the program is designed to assist students in making the right choices about majors and careers by increasing students’ understanding of how their unique talents, interests, values and skills match with a variety of careers and corresponding academic programs. This highly effective, structured program is open to all undergraduates, particularly catering to the needs of first- and second-year students. MIS is implemented over the course of several weeks through individual and group career counseling, which also includes the use of popular career and personality assessment inventories.
FAST FACTS
A vibrant academic and residential community in Fairfield, Connecticut, Sacred Heart University is the second-largest Catholic university in New England and the first in America to be led and staffed by lay people. An independent University in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, Sacred Heart is home to 6,000 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students in the College of Arts & Sciences, College of Education & Health Professions, and AACSB-accredited Welch College of Business.
Website: http://www.sacredheart.edu
Location: Fairfield, Connecticut (main), Stamford, Trumbull, and Griswold, CT (satellite). International campuses in Ireland and Luxembourg.
Founded: 1963 by the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, CT
Religious Affiliation: Roman Catholic
Institutional Accreditation: New England Association of Schools & Colleges
Student Body: 3,500 full-time undergraduate students; 6,000 total undergraduate and graduate students. 60% female students, 68% out of state, 15% minority students, 33 states and 42 countries represented.
Student to Faculty Ratio: 12:1
Average Undergraduate Class Size: < 20
Academics: Over 40 majors, minors, concentrations, certificates, and pre-professional advisement programs. For a complete list, visit http://www.sacredheart.edu/academics.cfm.
5 most popular undergraduate programs: Business, Education, Human Movement & Sports Science, Psychology, Media Studies & Digital Culture
Job Placement Rate: 96% (five-year average).
Athletics: Over 1200 student-athletes participate in 31 NCAA Division I sports and 22 intercollegiate club sports.
Campus Life: Academic groups, honor societies, national Greek organizations, media groups, performing arts groups, multicultural groups, recreational clubs, intramurals, service organizations, student governance.
Residential Life: Guaranteed housing (four years). 95% of first-year students live on campus.
Recent Public Endorsements:
U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Universities” Tier I, Master’s North
The Princeton Review’s “Best 371 Colleges: 2010 and Best 301 Business Schools: 2010;” AAC&U Core Commitments Leadership Consortium
President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll; Center for Student Opportunity’s College Bound Coalition.
ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID
Admissions Process/Requirements: Students applying to Sacred Heart University benefit from a comprehensive, holistic admissions process which takes into account students’ overall profiles including academic achievements, strength of college preparatory curricula, leadership and community service experience, character, and extraordinary talents. Sacred Heart University is a test-optional institution, and no longer requires the SAT/ACT as part of the student’s application. A student may elect to submit SAT/ACT scores the student believes it will strengthen his/her application and is reflective of the student’s potential as a first-year college student. Completion of the Common Application, high school transcript, and letter of recommendation are required, as well as a $50 application fee. An interview is strongly recommended for all candidates, and is required for Early Decision applicants. Admissions decisions are made on a first-come, first-served basis within a rolling admissions process, with the exception of the Early Decision program, which has a deadline of December 1. Early Decision students will be notified of an admissions decision by December 15. The priority deadline for students applying within the rolling admissions process is January 15.
SHU Student Profile: Over 900 students comprise the Sacred Heart University Class of 2013, which achieved an average high school GPA of 3.3 and top 30% high school class rank. 104 members of the Class of 2013 achieved a perfect 4.0 high school grade point average. 61 members of the Class are in the University’s Thomas More Honors Program, and 30% are Division I student-athletes