Sacred Heart University is a college town: 96 of every 100 residents are students
No college sits inside Sacred Heart University’s boundary, but Sacred Heart University’s campus in Fairfield, with 9,987 students on campus, is 0.1 miles from the center of town, and Connecticut State Community College is 48 miles away in New Britain. Across Connecticut, 7 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Sacred Heart University. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Sacred Heart University
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
What it’s like to live in Sacred Heart University
How much the colleges shape the town, from the Census Bureau’s survey of residents.
96 of every 100 Sacred Heart University residents are in college (CT: 7).
How students change Sacred Heart University’s other numbers
Read the town’s other grades with this in mind. How TownRatings handles college towns →
The Cost grade leaves out the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent wherever students are a quarter of residents or more (96% here): it would mostly measure student incomes.
CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and Sacred Heart University’s median age is 19.2 (Connecticut 41.1), so the adult figures describe a young population.
Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.
Colleges within 15 miles of Sacred Heart University
Four private colleges within 4.8 miles. The nearest public four-year college, Western Connecticut State University, is 16.1 miles away.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at Under $30k; the Census has no median household income for Sacred Heart University.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.
Questions about college near Sacred Heart University
Is Sacred Heart University a college town?
Yes. 96 of every 100 Sacred Heart University residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 7 across Connecticut. The nearest campus, Sacred Heart University, is 0.1 miles away in Fairfield.
What colleges are near Sacred Heart University?
Within 15 miles: Sacred Heart University (0.1 miles, 9,987 students on campus), Fairfield University (4.5 miles, 5,903), the University of Bridgeport (4.8 miles, 3,171) and Paier College (4.8 miles, 203).
What is the closest community college to Sacred Heart University, and what does it cost?
Connecticut State Community College in New Britain, 48 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,338 a year for Connecticut residents; the federal net price, $11,513, counts housing and food at full cost.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Sacred Heart University. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →