Head-to-head comparison
Sacred Heart University vs Albertus Magnus College: which has better ROI?
Option A Fairfield, CT
Sacred Heart University
- Net price / year
- $46,174
- Earnings, 10 years
- $75,059
- Payback
- 6.9 yrs
Option B New Haven, CT
Albertus Magnus College
- Net price / year
- $34,028
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,144
- Payback
- 11.6 yrs
Sacred Heart University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $184,696 in 6.9 years versus 11.6 years at Albertus Magnus College, on median earnings of $75,059 vs $60,144 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Sacred Heart University | Albertus Magnus College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $46,174 | $34,028 |
| Total net cost | $184,696 | $136,112 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $75,059 | $60,144 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $30,964 |
| Payback | 6.9 yrs | 11.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $349,284 | $99,568 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Sacred Heart University or Albertus Magnus College?
Albertus Magnus College, at $34,028 a year after aid versus $46,174 — a gap of $12,146 a year, or $48,584 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Sacred Heart University or Albertus Magnus College graduates earn more?
Sacred Heart University graduates report a median $75,059 ten years after entry, $14,915 more than the $60,144 at Albertus Magnus College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Sacred Heart University or Albertus Magnus College?
Sacred Heart University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $30,964 at Albertus Magnus College, a difference of $5,964. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
73% of students finish at Sacred Heart University, against 51% at Albertus Magnus College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.