Head-to-head comparison
Sacred Heart University vs University of Hartford: 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 West Hartford, CT
University of Hartford
- Net price / year
- $30,282
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,823
- Payback
- 9.7 yrs
Sacred Heart University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $184,696 in 6.9 years versus 9.7 years at University of Hartford, on median earnings of $75,059 vs $60,823 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Sacred Heart University | University of Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $46,174 | $30,282 |
| Total net cost | $184,696 | $121,128 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $75,059 | $60,823 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 6.9 yrs | 9.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $349,284 | $128,132 |
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 University of Hartford?
University of Hartford, at $30,282 a year after aid versus $46,174 — a gap of $15,892 a year, or $63,568 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 University of Hartford graduates earn more?
Sacred Heart University graduates report a median $75,059 ten years after entry, $14,236 more than the $60,823 at University of Hartford. 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 University of Hartford?
Sacred Heart University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at University of Hartford, a difference of $2,000. 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 54% at University of Hartford. 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.