Online College Review: Sacred Heart University

Sacred Heart University (SHU) is a private Catholic university in Fairfield, Connecticut, founded in 1963 by Walter W. Curtis, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport. The institution was the first Catholic university in the United States staffed by laity rather than clergy, and it is now the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England (behind Boston College). SHU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), enrolls approximately 10,500 students across residential and online programs, and offers more than 100 degree programs across five colleges and three schools. Sacred Heart University Online has been operating since 2006-2007 and currently offers 42 distance-learning programs spanning bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.

This review examines Sacred Heart University Online specifically: the NECHE accreditation picture, what online programs are available (with particular attention to nursing, social work, and counseling specializations where SHU holds programmatic accreditation), what they cost, who the institution is built for, the role of Catholic identity in the academic experience, and how SHU compares to other online universities. The Catholic affiliation is meaningful but operates differently than the explicit faith-integrated curricula at evangelical Christian universities like Liberty, Regent, and Biola; SHU describes its mission within the Catholic intellectual tradition while emphasizing humanistic and career-oriented education that serves students of all backgrounds.

For the broader framework on planning an online degree as a working adult, see: The Complete Guide to Earning an Accredited Online Degree as an Adult Learner.

Institutional Overview

Founding and Catholic Identity

Sacred Heart was founded in 1963 by Walter W. Curtis, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, on the grounds of the former Notre Dame Catholic High School. The institution was distinctive at its founding for being the first U.S. Catholic university to be operated by laity rather than by a religious order. This lay leadership structure has continued throughout the university’s history and produces a different institutional culture than universities operated by Jesuits, Franciscans, or other Catholic religious orders. SHU describes its educational philosophy within the Catholic intellectual tradition, with the Catholic Intellectual Tradition (CIT) seminar series serving as a distinctive academic component for residential undergraduates.

The Catholic identity at Sacred Heart influences institutional values and the broader academic culture rather than producing the explicit faith-integrated curriculum found at evangelical Christian universities. Students of all faiths and no faith enroll, and the university describes its mission in terms of humanistic education, ethical formation, and social responsibility. For prospective online students, the practical implication is that Catholic identity is part of the institutional culture but does not produce the kind of doctrinal coursework requirements found at institutions like Biola (30-credit Bible/theology requirement) or the explicit Christian faith integration at Liberty, Regent, or the Churches of Christ universities (Harding, Lipscomb, ACU).

Campus and Locations

The main campus is in Fairfield, Connecticut, on a 350-acre property approximately 50 miles from New York City and 150 miles from Boston. SHU operates additional locations in Stamford and Griswold, Connecticut, as well as international campuses in Dingle, Ireland and Italy. In 2016, the university acquired the former General Electric corporate headquarters near the main campus, which became the West Campus and significantly expanded SHU’s physical footprint. The Connecticut location places online program operations within driving range of major Northeast healthcare systems including Hartford HealthCare, Yale New Haven Health, and Northwell Health, where many graduates pursue careers.

Enrollment Profile

Sacred Heart enrolls approximately 7,200 undergraduate students plus 3,000+ graduate students, for total enrollment around 10,500. Of total enrollment, approximately 5,000 students take at least one distance-learning course, with about 1,300 enrolled exclusively online. Online programs serve a substantially older and more career-focused student population than the residential undergraduate program. The residential undergraduate program is moderately selective with 57-66 percent acceptance rates depending on the source, while online programs use rolling admissions with program-specific requirements.

Is Sacred Heart University Accredited?

Yes. Sacred Heart University is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), one of the seven U.S. Department of Education-recognized regional accrediting bodies. NECHE is the same accreditor that oversees Harvard University, Yale University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brown University, and most major colleges and universities across the six New England states. NECHE accreditation carries full federal recognition for financial aid eligibility, credit transferability, employer recognition, and graduate school admissions.

Source: New England Commission of Higher Education.

Programmatic Accreditations

Sacred Heart holds an unusually broad set of programmatic accreditations relative to its institutional size, which directly affects the value of specific online programs:

• CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs): SHU’s clinical mental health counseling and school counseling programs are CACREP-accredited. CACREP accreditation is required for state Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensure in many states, and CACREP-accredited programs are meaningfully more valuable for prospective counselors than non-CACREP alternatives. This accreditation is genuinely distinctive at SHU.
• CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education): Multiple SHU nursing programs are CCNE-accredited, including the BSN, MSN tracks, and DNP programs. CCNE is required for many advanced practice and graduate nursing pathways.
• CSWE (Council on Social Work Education): SHU’s MSW (Master of Social Work) program is CSWE-accredited, which is required for state Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensure in all jurisdictions. CSWE accreditation is the standard for graduate social work education.
• AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business): SHU’s Jack Welch College of Business and Technology holds AACSB accreditation, which places the business school in the top 6 percent of business schools globally. This is meaningfully different from the ACBSP accreditation held by Harding, ACU, Lipscomb, Biola, and many other private Christian universities, since AACSB is the more selective and globally recognized business accreditation.
• CEPH (Council on Education for Public Health): The Master of Public Health program holds CEPH accreditation, which is the standard credential for graduate public health education and is required for many public health career pathways.

The combination of CACREP, CCNE, CSWE, AACSB, and CEPH accreditations gives SHU one of the broadest programmatic accreditation portfolios among private universities of similar size. For students pursuing licensure-track careers in counseling, nursing, social work, public health, or business with AACSB priority, this accreditation breadth produces meaningful value beyond the institutional reputation.

Sacred Heart University Online Programs

Sacred Heart offers 42 distance-learning programs: 5 online bachelor’s degrees, 18 online master’s degrees, 5 online doctoral programs, 12 post-graduate certificates, and 2 undergraduate certificates. Most programs use 8-week ‘AHEAD’ terms designed for working adults. The catalog is meaningfully concentrated in healthcare (nursing), counseling and mental health, social work, education, and business, rather than spread across all academic fields.

Online Nursing Programs

Sacred Heart’s online nursing portfolio is one of its strongest online specializations, with multiple CCNE-accredited tracks for licensed RNs:

• MSN in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP): 42-credit program at $890 per credit, total approximately $37,380. Prepares graduates for ANCC or AANP family nurse practitioner certification.
• MSN in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP): For RNs with BSN and 2+ years of experience pursuing psychiatric specialization.
• MSN in Nursing Management and Executive Leadership: 36-credit program at $690 per credit, total approximately $24,840. Designed for nurses pursuing administrative and leadership roles.
• MSN in Clinical Nurse Leader: 39-credit program at $690 per credit, total approximately $26,910.
• MSN in Nursing Education: For nurses pursuing teaching and curriculum development roles.
• BSN-DNP and post-master’s DNP programs: Doctoral nursing pathways.

MSN tuition at SHU runs $695 to $955 per credit depending on the specific track and clinical complexity. This pricing is meaningfully higher than SNHU’s online MSN ($627 per credit) and WGU’s flat-rate model, but in line with other CCNE-accredited online MSN programs at private nonprofit institutions.

Online Counseling and Mental Health Programs

Sacred Heart’s CACREP-accredited counseling programs are a distinctive online offering:

• S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: CACREP-accredited program preparing graduates for LPC licensure. This is one of relatively few online CACREP-accredited counseling programs at private nonprofit universities.
• S. in School Counseling: CACREP-accredited program designed for state school counselor licensure. Includes field experience requirements aligned with state certification.

CACREP accreditation is genuinely meaningful in counseling. State LPC licensure boards in many jurisdictions require CACREP-accredited programs or equivalent state-board-approved alternatives, and CACREP-accredited graduates have stronger licensure portability across states than non-CACREP graduates. Direct online CACREP-accredited competitors include Liberty University, Capella, Walden, Lipscomb, and a smaller set of other institutions.

Online Social Work Programs

The CSWE-accredited online MSW (Master of Social Work) program is a substantial offering serving licensed and pre-license clinical social workers:

• MSW Standard: Full 60-credit program for students without a BSW background.
• MSW Advanced Standing: Accelerated track for students with a CSWE-accredited BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) within the past 7 years.
• D. in Social Work: Online doctoral program for advanced social work careers in research, academia, or senior practice. Dissertation continuation course pricing applies for students extending beyond the standard timeline.

CSWE accreditation is mandatory for state LCSW licensure in all U.S. jurisdictions. Online CSWE-accredited MSW alternatives include programs at the University of Southern California, Boston University, Fordham University, and a substantial set of public university online MSW programs at varying price points. Students should compare specific licensure outcomes and field placement support before committing.

Online Business Programs

Through the AACSB-accredited Jack Welch College of Business and Technology, SHU offers online business programs:

• Online MBA: AACSB-accredited online MBA program. The AACSB credential places the program in the top 6 percent of global business schools and is meaningfully more selective than ACBSP. This is one of the more notable distinctions between SHU’s online MBA and online MBAs at most private Christian universities.
• S. in Digital Marketing, M.S. in Finance & Investment Management, M.S. in Accounting: Specialized business master’s programs.
• Master of Public Administration (MPA): For careers in nonprofit management, emergency management, and public sector leadership.

Online Education Programs

• S. in Higher Education: For aspiring higher education administrators, faculty, and student affairs professionals.
• A.T. and other education master’s programs: Including specialized tracks in literacy and educational leadership.

Online Bachelor’s Programs

SHU’s online bachelor’s catalog is intentionally focused rather than wide-ranging:

• S. in Criminal Justice: Online degree completion program for adult learners with prior college credit. Two-year part-time completion timeline.
• A. in Strategic Communication, Public Relations and Advertising: Online bachelor’s with two-year completion using AHEAD eight-week terms.
• RN-to-BSN: Online bachelor’s completion for licensed RNs with associate degrees.
• S. in Healthcare Management: Healthcare-focused business undergraduate program.
• Online General Studies and degree completion programs: Flexible bachelor’s options for adult learners.

Cost of Attending Sacred Heart Online

Online Graduate Tuition

Sacred Heart’s online graduate tuition varies meaningfully by program. Nursing tracks run $690 to $955 per credit depending on clinical complexity and specialization. Other graduate programs have program-specific rates that should be verified directly with SHU admissions before enrollment.

For a 36 to 42-credit master’s program at the typical SHU rate, total tuition runs $25,000 to $40,000. The MSN FNP program at 42 credits and $890 per credit produces total tuition of approximately $37,380. The MSN Nursing Management program at 36 credits and $690 per credit produces total tuition of approximately $24,840. MSW programs and counseling programs have additional program-specific fees including assessment fees and field placement costs.

In the online graduate market, SHU’s pricing is meaningfully higher than SNHU ($627 per credit graduate average), WGU (flat-rate model around $4,500 per six-month term), or many public university online programs. SHU’s pricing is in line with other private nonprofit online programs holding similar programmatic accreditations: CACREP-accredited online counseling programs at Capella, Walden, and Liberty run $550 to $850 per credit, and CSWE-accredited online MSW programs at private nonprofits commonly run $900 to $1,500 per credit.

Online Undergraduate Tuition

Online undergraduate tuition at Sacred Heart runs at program-specific rates that are meaningfully lower than the residential undergraduate tuition of $52,410 per year. Specific online undergraduate per-credit rates should be verified directly with SHU admissions, as rates vary by program. Online students benefit from federal financial aid eligibility through standard FAFSA processes.

Residential Undergraduate Tuition

For students considering Sacred Heart’s residential undergraduate experience rather than online programs, full-time residential undergraduate tuition is approximately $48,160 with $300 in fees, for total tuition and fees of approximately $52,410 (2025-26). Total cost of attendance including room and board runs approximately $73,394 to $73,610 per year. Average financial aid is $25,335 in need-based aid, with approximately 55 to 63 percent of first-year students receiving need-based assistance. The average net price after aid is approximately $44,554. The residential experience is meaningfully different from online enrollment and is outside the scope of this online review.

Financial Aid

Sacred Heart Online students are eligible for federal financial aid through the standard FAFSA process, including Pell Grants and federal student loans. The institution participates in VA benefits including Yellow Ribbon for veterans. Specific online student scholarship eligibility should be verified directly with SHU’s Office of Student Financial Assistance, as scholarship policies vary between residential and online enrollment.

For complete guidance on filing the FAFSA as an online student: FAFSA for Online Students: What to Know Before You Apply.

Outcomes Data

Sacred Heart’s institution-wide outcomes are notably strong for a private Catholic university in this size range. The 99 percent placement rate within a year of graduation (defined as full-time work, advanced study, or service) and the $63,925 median salary 6 years after enrollment both reflect strong career outcomes.

Metric	Sacred Heart	Context
4-year graduation rate	68%	Above national 4-yr public institution avg ~44%
6-year graduation rate (estimated)	~75%	Above national avg of ~60%
Median earnings 6 years after enrollment	$63,925	Notably high among comparable private universities
Career outcomes within one year	99%	Working/advanced study/service combined
Acceptance rate	57-66%	Moderately selective
Student-faculty ratio	15:1	Standard for mid-size private universities
Online programs operational since	2006-2007	Mature online operation
NCAA Division I sports	33 teams	Notable D-I athletics program

The $63,925 median earnings figure is notably higher than the comparable figures at the Christian universities reviewed in this series (Harding $43,555, ACU $46,727, Lipscomb $50,454, Biola not specifically published) and reflects Sacred Heart’s positioning in the Northeast labor market with its higher-cost-of-living wage structure. The 99 percent within-one-year placement rate is among the strongest in the region. These institution-wide figures reflect residential undergraduate outcomes primarily; online graduate program outcomes vary by specific track and should be evaluated on program-specific data.

For program-level outcomes data on any institution: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Who Is Sacred Heart University Online Built For?

Sacred Heart Online serves specific student populations particularly well. The programmatic accreditation depth (CACREP, CSWE, CCNE, AACSB, CEPH), the Catholic intellectual tradition without explicit faith-integration requirements, and the Northeast regional positioning produce a meaningful student-fit profile.

Strong Fit

Sacred Heart Online is well-suited for several specific student profiles:

• Working professionals pursuing CACREP-accredited counseling credentials for LPC licensure. SHU’s clinical mental health counseling and school counseling programs are among the more credible online CACREP-accredited options at a private nonprofit institution.
• Licensed clinical social workers pursuing the CSWE-accredited online MSW. The Advanced Standing track is particularly valuable for working social workers with a recent BSW pursuing the LCSW credential.
• Registered nurses pursuing CCNE-accredited graduate credentials, particularly the Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, or DNP pathways. The MSN portfolio depth is meaningful for nurses considering multiple specialization tracks.
• Working professionals pursuing AACSB-accredited online MBAs at Christian-tradition institutions. SHU’s AACSB credential is genuinely distinctive among private Catholic and Christian universities; most peer institutions hold ACBSP rather than AACSB.
• Students who specifically value Catholic intellectual tradition without the explicit faith-integration requirements found at evangelical Christian universities. SHU’s Catholic identity influences institutional culture while leaving specific theological coursework optional rather than required.
• Northeast-region working professionals who specifically benefit from SHU’s Hartford HealthCare, Yale New Haven Health, Northwell Health, and broader Boston-NYC corridor employer network.
• Public health practitioners pursuing the CEPH-accredited online MPH. CEPH is the standard credential for graduate public health education.

Less Strong Fit

Sacred Heart Online is less well-suited for several other student profiles where alternatives produce better outcomes:

• Students prioritizing the lowest possible cost. SHU’s online graduate per-credit rates of $690 to $955 are substantially higher than SNHU’s online graduate rates ($627 average), WGU’s flat-rate model, or many public university online programs. For students whose primary criterion is cost, alternatives produce meaningfully lower total tuition.
• Students seeking the broadest possible online program catalog. SHU’s 42 distance-learning programs are concentrated in healthcare, counseling, social work, education, and business. Students wanting wide selection across many fields will find more options at SNHU (200+ programs) or Liberty (600+ programs across modalities).
• Students who specifically want explicit faith-integrated curriculum throughout their academic experience. SHU’s Catholic identity is part of institutional culture but does not produce the kind of required theological coursework found at Biola (30-credit Bible/theology), the explicit Christian integration at Liberty, or the Churches of Christ-affiliated institutions (Harding, Lipscomb, ACU). Students who specifically want pervasive faith integration should consider those alternatives.
• Students seeking the lowest-cost CACREP-accredited online counseling option. SHU’s counseling programs are meaningfully more expensive than Liberty’s CACREP-accredited online counseling at competitive rates. The cost-vs-prestige trade-off depends on specific career goals and target employer types.
• Students seeking dedicated online doctoral programs in non-nursing fields. SHU’s online doctoral catalog is focused on nursing (DNP) and social work (Ph.D.). Students seeking online doctoral programs in education, business, or other fields should look at Liberty, Walden, Capella, or specialized institutions.
• Students outside the Northeast pursuing programs where SHU’s regional positioning provides no direct employer-network benefit. The premium tuition is most justified for students who benefit from the Hartford-NYC-Boston corridor employer relationships.

How Sacred Heart Compares to Other Online Options

For prospective students considering Sacred Heart Online, several other institutions cover overlapping space and deserve direct comparison.

Other Catholic and Religiously Affiliated Online Universities

Catholic online higher education includes a relatively small set of institutions with substantial online operations. Direct competitors include:

DeSales University, St. Joseph’s University (PA), and Mount Saint Mary’s University: Smaller Catholic institutions with focused online catalogs. SHU’s catalog depth and AACSB business school accreditation provide meaningful differentiation.

Loyola University Chicago, Loyola Marymount University, and Boston College: Larger Catholic universities with selective residential programs but smaller online operations. These institutions carry stronger national brand recognition but generally do not offer the breadth of online programs SHU provides.

Liberty University: Liberty’s CACREP-accredited online counseling, CCNE-accredited online nursing, and broad online catalog provide direct overlap with SHU’s strongest specializations. Liberty is meaningfully cheaper per-credit but operates under explicit evangelical Christian framework rather than Catholic intellectual tradition. Liberty University Online College Review.

Specialized Online Universities for Counseling and Healthcare

Capella University: A primarily-online university with substantial CACREP-accredited counseling, CCNE-accredited nursing, and CSWE-accredited social work programs. Capella’s competency-based FlexPath option produces lower total cost than SHU for self-directed learners. Capella University Online College Review.

Larger Online Universities

SNHU: $330 per credit for undergraduate, $627 per credit graduate average. NECHE regional accreditation (same as SHU). SNHU is meaningfully cheaper than SHU and offers broader program selection, but does not match SHU’s CACREP, AACSB, or CEPH programmatic accreditations in the specific specializations where SHU is strong. Southern New Hampshire University Online College Review.

WGU: Flat-rate competency-based model at approximately $4,270 per six-month term. NWCCU regional accreditation. Strong fit for self-directed learners, particularly in nursing where WGU’s CCNE-accredited programs offer different value vs. SHU’s traditional cohort-based MSN tracks. Western Governors University Online College Review.

Decision Framework for Specific Programs

If Considering CACREP-Accredited Counseling

Sacred Heart’s CACREP accreditation is genuinely meaningful for prospective LPC and school counselors. Direct online CACREP-accredited competitors include Liberty (cheaper), Capella (FlexPath option), Walden (large enrollment), Lipscomb (Christian-affiliated), and a smaller set of other private and public university programs. Students should verify CACREP standing on the CACREP directory before committing, compare program-specific licensure pass rates and field experience support, and align program coursework with target state licensure board requirements.

If Considering the Online MSW

CSWE accreditation is mandatory for state LCSW licensure. SHU’s online MSW competes with online MSW programs at USC (Suzanne Dworak-Peck School), Boston University, Fordham University, and a substantial set of public and private online MSW programs. The Advanced Standing track for students with a recent BSW is particularly valuable. Cost varies substantially across CSWE-accredited online MSW programs; students should compare total program cost, field placement support, and specific concentration tracks (clinical practice vs. macro practice, specific population focus) before committing.

If Considering the Online MSN

SHU’s CCNE-accredited MSN tracks are credible options within their specific specializations. The FNP program at $890 per credit and 42 credits is in line with other private nonprofit online FNP programs. WGU’s CCNE-accredited online MSN at flat-rate pricing produces lower total cost for self-directed learners. Direct alternatives include online MSN programs at Chamberlain University, Walden University, Liberty University, and many state university online programs. Students should compare specific clinical placement support and target certification (ANCC vs. AANP).

If Considering the AACSB-Accredited Online MBA

SHU’s AACSB credential is meaningfully different from ACBSP credentials at Harding, ACU, Lipscomb, Biola, and many other private Christian universities. AACSB places SHU’s MBA in the top 6 percent of global business schools, which is meaningful for certain employer hiring filters and graduate school admissions. Direct AACSB-accredited online MBA competitors include ASU W.P. Carey, Indiana Kelley Direct, University of Illinois iMBA (substantially cheaper), University of Florida MBA, and others. SHU’s AACSB MBA combined with Catholic intellectual tradition framework is a specific niche; students who don’t specifically value the Catholic context may find lower-cost AACSB alternatives more attractive.

If Considering the Online MPH

CEPH accreditation is the standard credential for graduate public health education. SHU’s CEPH-accredited online MPH competes with CEPH-accredited online MPH programs at George Washington University, University of Southern California, Johns Hopkins, University of Minnesota, and many state university online MPH programs. Specific concentration availability and field placement requirements vary substantially; students should compare based on target career path (epidemiology, health policy, environmental health, etc.) and cost.

Bottom Line: Should You Enroll at Sacred Heart Online?

Sacred Heart University Online occupies a distinctive position in the online higher education market: a NECHE-accredited mid-sized private Catholic university in Connecticut with the second-largest Catholic enrollment in New England, an unusually broad set of programmatic accreditations (CACREP, CCNE, CSWE, AACSB, CEPH), strong career outcomes (99 percent within-one-year placement, $63,925 median earnings 6 years after enrollment), and a 19-year online operating history dating to 2006-2007.

Sacred Heart is a strong choice for working professionals pursuing CACREP-accredited counseling credentials for LPC licensure, CSWE-accredited social work credentials for LCSW licensure, CCNE-accredited graduate nursing credentials, AACSB-accredited online MBA credentials at a Catholic-tradition institution, or CEPH-accredited public health credentials. The combination of regional accreditation depth, programmatic accreditation breadth, and Northeast employer network produces meaningful value for students whose career goals align with these specific specializations.

Sacred Heart is a less strong choice for students prioritizing the lowest possible cost (SNHU, WGU, and Liberty produce lower total costs across most program areas), the broadest possible online catalog (SNHU and Liberty have substantially more program options), explicit faith-integrated curriculum requirements (Biola, Liberty, Regent, and Churches of Christ-affiliated universities have more pervasive faith integration), or out-of-state students pursuing programs where the Northeast regional positioning provides no direct employer-network advantage.

The single most important practical step for any prospective Sacred Heart Online student: identify whether your target program holds the specific programmatic accreditation that matters for your career path (CACREP, CCNE, CSWE, AACSB, or CEPH) and align this against alternatives. For students whose target program requires programmatic accreditation that SHU holds, the value proposition is clear; for students whose target program is a general business, IT, or psychology degree available at many institutions, the cost comparison against SNHU, WGU, Liberty, and similar alternatives is the more important decision factor.

For the broader framework on planning an online degree as a working adult, see: The Complete Guide to Earning an Accredited Online Degree as an Adult Learner.

For the most affordable online colleges available in 2026, see: 12 Most Affordable Online Colleges in 2026.