Freshman Class Sizes At Sacred Heart University

Sacred Heart University (SHU) is a private Catholic university in Fairfield, Connecticut, with a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,960 students as of Fall 2023. While the exact number of freshman students is unclear, it is known that over 90% of freshmen live on campus, suggesting that the number of freshmen is substantial. SHU has a lively campus atmosphere with many athletic, cultural, and social events offered throughout the year.

Sacred Heart University has a total of 6,960 undergraduate students enrolled as of Fall 2023

Sacred Heart University (SHU) is a private, Roman Catholic university in Fairfield, Connecticut. It was founded in 1963 and was the first Catholic university in the United States to be led and staffed by laypeople. SHU is the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England.

As of Fall 2023, Sacred Heart University has a total of 6,960 undergraduate students enrolled. The gender distribution is 35.6% male and 64.4% female, with 51% of students living in university-owned or affiliated housing. The university has a lively campus, with over 90% of freshmen living on campus and a wide range of athletic, cultural, and social events throughout the year.

Sacred Heart University offers a variety of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across different fields. The university is committed to providing experiential learning opportunities and real-world applications for its students. This includes research, internships, clinical placements, independent study, service learning, and work-study programs. With its main campus in Connecticut, SHU also has international campuses and study abroad options worldwide, allowing students to gain immersive academic and cultural experiences.

In addition to its academic focus, Sacred Heart University promotes a well-rounded student life. The university has over 100 student organizations, including Fraternity and Sorority Life, and its athletic programs include Division I and club sports with a large number of athletes. The performing arts program at SHU is also nationally recognized and offers a range of opportunities for students to explore their creative interests.

51% of these students live in university-owned housing

Sacred Heart University (SHU) is a private, Roman Catholic university in Fairfield, Connecticut. It was founded in 1963 by Bishop Walter W. Curtis and was the first Catholic university in the US to be led and staffed by laypeople. SHU is the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England.

The university has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,960 students (including 6,532 full-time and 428 part-time undergraduates), with 35.6% male students and 64.4% female students. 51% of these students live in university-owned housing, while 49% live off campus. The university has 10 residential buildings, and over 90% of freshmen live on campus.

SHU offers a variety of housing options, including apartments for single students and special housing for disabled students. The university has been committed to providing the best living and learning spaces for its students, having opened 21 new buildings in eight years, including eight additional residence halls.

The campus has a lively atmosphere with many athletic, cultural, and social events offered throughout the year. SHU has over 100 student organisations, a thriving Greek life community, and a commitment to community service. With over 33 Division I athletic teams and 35 club sports, there are plenty of opportunities for students to get involved.

The student gender distribution is 35.6% male and 64.4% female

Sacred Heart University (SHU) is a private Catholic university in Fairfield, Connecticut, founded in 1963 by Bishop Walter W. Curtis. It is the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England. SHU offers a variety of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs to its students.

The university has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,960 students as of Fall 2023, with a gender distribution of 35.6% male and 64.4% female. This uneven distribution of male and female students is a notable aspect of the student body at Sacred Heart University. The female student population significantly outnumbers the male student population, with a difference of nearly 30%. This disparity in gender distribution is a unique characteristic that shapes the social dynamics and campus culture at the university.

The gender distribution at Sacred Heart University, with a higher percentage of female students, contributes to a diverse and inclusive campus community. This diversity extends beyond gender, as the university also welcomes students from various geographic locations. In the 2023-2024 academic year, undergraduate and graduate students came from 43 states, two US territories, and over 40 countries, showcasing the university's broad reach and appeal to students from different backgrounds.

The university's commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment is further evident in its recognition by The Princeton Review as one of the top colleges with students who give back through community service. This commitment to service is a key aspect of the university's culture, with students engaging in various social, academic, leadership, and service organizations. The university's student body is also actively involved in fraternity and sorority life, with over 2,000 student members.

Sacred Heart University's gender distribution, with a higher percentage of female students, is a distinctive feature that contributes to the diverse and engaging campus environment. The university's commitment to community service, academic excellence, and extracurricular involvement fosters a well-rounded and inclusive student community.

The university has 32-33 varsity teams that compete in Division I

Sacred Heart University (SHU) has a strong focus on sports, with 32 or 33 varsity teams competing in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). SHU's athletic programme is renowned, with its teams competing in 33 NCAA varsity sports and more than 34 club sports, including esports and pickleball. SHU's varsity athletes compete in the William Pitt Athletic & Convocation Center and the Martire Family Arena, a premier facility for hockey and skating competitions.

SHU's varsity teams include 18 women's teams and 15 men's teams, with nearly 800 students participating. The men's fencing team has been particularly successful, winning the Northeast Conference title five years in a row from 2010 to 2014 and ranking #9 in 2011. The football team also claimed an FCS title in 2001, and the women's hockey team won the inaugural NEWHA tournament in 2018.

SHU's athletic department hired Major League Baseball player and manager Bobby Valentine as its athletic director in 2013. The university's commitment to sports is evident, with over 1,500 athletes and a well-respected Division I programme. SHU also has a robust club sports programme, offering more than 25 club sports teams.

SHU's sports teams are known as the Pioneers, and they compete in Division I of the NCAA in several conferences, including the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and Atlantic Hockey America. The Pioneers have a rivalry with Central Connecticut State University, the oldest public university in the state, in what is known as the Constitution State Rivalry.

Sacred Heart University is a private, Roman Catholic university

Sacred Heart University (SHU) is a private, Roman Catholic university in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. It was founded in 1963 by Walter W. Curtis, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and was the first Catholic university in the United States to be led and staffed by lay people. SHU is the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England and offers a variety of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs.

The university has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,960, with a gender distribution of 35.6% male students and 64.4% female students. The student body consists of 51% of students living in college-owned or affiliated housing and 49% living off-campus. The university offers a variety of housing options, including apartments for single students and special housing for disabled students. SHU is also home to a variety of student organizations, including Greek life, with over 13 chapters and more than 2,000 student members.

SHU offers a wide range of academic programs, including liberal arts, business, health professions, nursing, and education. The university is committed to experiential learning and providing real-world applications for its students. This includes research opportunities, internships, clinical placements, and independent study programs. SHU also offers study abroad programs, with an international campus in Dingle, Ireland, and additional locations in Rome, Luxembourg, and other countries.

The university's Division I athletic programs and club sports teams foster a sense of school spirit and community engagement. SHU's performing arts program is also well-regarded, offering a variety of theatre, music, and dance programs. The campus life at SHU is vibrant, with over 90% of freshmen living on campus and a variety of athletic, cultural, and social events held throughout the year.

SHU has been recognised for its academic excellence and commitment to student success, with a variety of rankings and awards from organisations like U.S. News & World Report, Colleges of Distinction, and The Princeton Review. The university's community engagement efforts have also been recognised, with rankings for giving back and making a positive impact globally.

Frequently asked questions