Sacred Heart University Campus Life: Photos, Videos, Facilities

Sacred Heart University (SHU) is a private Roman Catholic university located in Fairfield, Connecticut. SHU was founded by the most reverend Walter W. Curtis, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport. Founded in 1963, it was the first Catholic university in America to be led and staffed by lay people. Sacred Heart University is spread across two campuses and into five colleges.

Sacred Heart University Campus Overview

Sacred Heart University is one of the Chronicle of Higher Education's fast-growing Catholic colleges. Sacred Heart University offers highly top-rated programs through its two campuses and five academic colleges. Life at SHU is lively when you're in the mood for energy and camaraderie, and relaxing when you need to unwind. Students can participate in Band & Orchestra, Choral, Theater Arts, or Dance programs at SHU. The university's Greek community is home to over 1,800 students, along with 8 sororities and 4 fraternities. There are over 80 student-run clubs and organizations for all students at Sacred Heart University campuses. Check below the above-mentioned facilities in detail at Sacred Heart University. 

• Performing Arts: Students at Sacred Heart University get the opportunity to develop and showcase their talent by participating in the university's Band & Orchestra, Choral, Theater Arts, or Dance programs.  For those who’d like to take their interest even further, we offer academic programs within the College of Arts & Sciences.
• Greek Life: At Sacred Heart, the university has approximately 1,600 students in eight sororities and 400 students across six fraternities. About 31% of full-time undergraduate students are involved in Fraternity & Sorority Life. 
• Faith & Service: Faith and service are at the heart of Sacred Heart University's catholic intellectual tradition. As part of its mission, Sacred Heart University's Campus Ministry has developed three values, Encounter, Accompaniment, and Vulnerability, that connect the mission of the university and lay the foundation for the growth and development of the whole person.
• Clubs & Organizations: Sacred Heart University offers over 80 student-run clubs and organizations to all undergraduates on campus. These clubs present students with opportunities to meet fellow students who share similar interests, to connect with faculty and staff outside of the classroom, and to become more connected to the Sacred Heart community.
• Fitness, Recreation & Sports: Students can participate in several ways for a Pioneer basketball game, competing on one of SHU's club or intramural teams, or climbing the rock wall at the Valentine Health & Recreation Centre. 

Other Campuses of Sacred Heart University Details 

Details of other Sacred Heart University campuses and offices of the university are given below:

Sacred Heart University Student Enrollment 

As per the latest official data, the Sacred Heart University campus is home to over 11,000 students, including 7,200 undergraduates, 3,800 graduates, and around 400 doctoral students. The student-to-faculty ratio of the university is 15:1, while the average freshman retention rate of SHU is 86%. The Sacred Heart University acceptance rate is around 66%.

Also check Sacred Heart University Admissions

Sacred Heart University Athletics 

Sacred Heart University fields 33 intercollegiate athletic teams, which compete in NCAA Division I, and 36 intercollegiate club sports. The intercollegiate varsity teams are also referred to as Sacred Heart Pioneers, whereas the university mascot is called Big Red the Pioneer. Some of the sports offered include Men’s Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Soccer, Track and Field, Wrestling, Volleyball, etc. And women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Equestrian, Lacrosse, Rugby, Softball, Wrestling, Volleyball, Rowing, Track and Field, etc. 

Sports are a big part of Sacred Heart University. International students can participate and compete in any of the clubs and intramural teams at Sacred Heart University. The Intramural office provides recreational activities for all SHU students. Leagues at SHU run from 3-6 weeks, and 1 or 2-day events are scheduled throughout the year.

Sacred Heart University Top Courses 

When it comes to the Sacred Heart University courses, the university offers over 200 programs, including undergraduate, graduate, certificate, and doctoral programs across five colleges and three schools. These include online degree programs, and the university also offers 39 dual degree programs, combining bachelor’s and master’s or professional degrees.  

The top 5 popular majors for undergraduates, as reported by the university, are Finance & Business Economics, Exercise Science, Nursing, Marketing, and Psychology. A top-ranking publisher also ranked SHU as one of the best undergraduate business schools in 2025. The top courses reported for Fall 2023, based on the number of degrees awarded by the university, are as follows: 

Also check Sacred Heart University Rankings

Sacred Heart University Housing

Sacred Heart University offers both on-campus and off-campus housing facilities to students at the university. The university ensures to offer students a home-like experience to the students residing in the on-campus halls and a place where students can continue their conversations outside the classroom, work on projects together, and even spend time studying.

The freshmen students at the university reside in well-developed communities where the staff ensures that the needs of every student are met. The second-year students live in apartment-style housing whereas the senior students reside in halls located 6 miles from the university’s campus. The halls in which the first-year students at the university reside are listed below:

The housing rates for 2025-26 for some of the residence halls at Sacred Heart University are given below:

1 USD = INR 85.87 

2025-26 Cost of Attendance for undergraduate students living on the Sacred Heart University campus: 

1 USD = INR 85.87 

Also check Sacred Heart University Fees

Sacred Heart University Transportation

The nearest airports to Sacred Heart University for international students are listed below:

The university offers shuttle services for students running 7 days a week. The shuttle service runs from off-campus University accommodation sites and certain specific service sites as well.

Sacred Heart University Campus Safety

Sacred Heart University offers the Department of Public Safety, which ensures the maintenance of safety and security at the university so that the community at the university can pursue their academics without any hindrance. SHU offers an emergency notification system through which the students and the community are informed about any emergency on campus through texts or calls. The University also offers personal safety escorts running from dusk to dawn. To further increase to safety of the students at the university, the university also offers a key card or a mental key to the students once they move into their accommodation at the university. The university also offers a 365-day Public Safety office.