The average acceptance rate at SHU over the past 10 years is 63.11%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 65.36%. Compared to the previous year, it became slightly more competitive to gain admission to SHU in 2025.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 21.38%, and the 2025 yield is 17.48%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 26.00% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of SHU applicants increased by 15.48% (2,211 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 78.15% overall.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 65.36%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that SHU is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 17.48%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at SHU. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.
For the 2025 admission cycle, SHU received approximately 16,495 applications, admitted 10,781 students, and enrolled 1,885 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that SHU is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
SHU 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at SHU over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 63.11%, while the most recent rate stands at 65.36%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 65.36%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 58.26% and for women is 65.67%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at SHU have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 58.97% | 53.39% | 62.16% |
| 2016-17 | 57.21% -1.76% |
54.05% 0.66% |
58.99% -3.17% |
| 2017-18 | 60.28% 3.07% |
53.66% -0.38% |
63.88% 4.89% |
| 2018-19 | 60.45% 0.17% |
54.89% 1.23% |
63.45% -0.43% |
| 2019-20 | 63.92% 3.47% |
58.12% 3.23% |
66.87% 3.42% |
| 2020-21 | 65.53% 1.62% |
59.13% 1.01% |
68.70% 1.83% |
| 2021-22 | 66.00% 0.47% |
62.01% 2.87% |
68.00% -0.70% |
| 2022-23 | 65.71% -0.29% |
60.00% -2.01% |
68.60% 0.59% |
| 2023-24 | 67.68% 1.97% |
63.58% 3.58% |
69.91% 1.32% |
| 2024-25 | 65.36% -2.32% |
63.76% 0.18% |
66.19% -3.72% |
| Average | 63.11% | 58.26% | 65.67% |
SHU has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 23.63% in 2015 to 17.48% in 2025, representing a 26.00% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 21.38%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at SHU from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 26.00% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 23.63% | 25.32% | 22.80% |
| 2016-17 | 23.07% -0.56% |
23.97% -1.35% |
22.60% -0.19% |
| 2017-18 | 23.03% -0.04% |
24.18% 0.21% |
22.50% -0.10% |
| 2018-19 | 22.56% -0.47% |
24.24% 0.06% |
21.78% -0.72% |
| 2019-20 | 21.38% -1.18% |
23.04% -1.20% |
20.64% -1.14% |
| 2020-21 | 20.66% -0.72% |
21.28% -1.77% |
20.39% -0.25% |
| 2021-22 | 22.00% 1.35% |
23.98% 2.71% |
21.00% 0.61% |
| 2022-23 | 20.29% -1.72% |
21.53% -2.45% |
19.74% -1.26% |
| 2023-24 | 19.71% -0.58% |
22.79% 1.26% |
18.17% -1.56% |
| 2024-25 | 17.48% -2.22% |
18.07% -4.73% |
17.19% -0.98% |
| Average | 21.38% | 22.84% | 20.68% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 12,067, the average number of admitted is 7,674, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 1,612.
The number of SHU applicants increased by 15.48% (2,211 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 78.15% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Sacred Heart University from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 9,259 | 5,460 | 1,290 |
| 2016-17 | 10,017 8.19% |
5,731 4.96% |
1,322 2.48% |
| 2017-18 | 9,992 -0.25% |
6,023 5.10% |
1,387 4.92% |
| 2018-19 | 10,742 7.51% |
6,493 7.80% |
1,465 5.62% |
| 2019-20 | 11,717 9.08% |
7,489 15.34% |
1,601 9.28% |
| 2020-21 | 12,189 4.03% |
7,988 6.66% |
1,650 3.06% |
| 2021-22 | 12,663 3.89% |
8,358 4.63% |
1,839 11.45% |
| 2022-23 | 13,316 5.16% |
8,750 4.69% |
1,775 -3.48% |
| 2023-24 | 14,284 7.27% |
9,667 10.48% |
1,905 7.32% |
| 2024-25 | 16,495 15.48% |
10,781 11.52% |
1,885 -1.05% |
| Average | 12,067 | 7,674 | 1,612 |
The following table compares Sacred Heart University' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacred Heart University | 67.68% | 65.36% | -3.43% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | 90.71% | 95.91% | -5.42% |
| Mount St. Mary's University | 73.81% | 71.86% | 2.71% |
| Robert Morris University | 89.89% | 90.57% | -0.75% |
| Saint Francis University | 76.82% | 76.89% | -0.09% |
| Bryant University | 65.46% | 65.65% | -0.29% |
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