About Sacred Heart University
Educating in Mind, Body and Spirit
At Sacred Heart University (SHU), we challenge you to be fearless in your curiosity, courageous in your service, and relentless in your pursuit of knowledge and self-reflection.
Our holistic vision of education is rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition and emphasizes your mind, body and spirit. Inspired by the gospel of love and mercy, we commit to furthering social justice, promoting the common good and serving others, especially the poor and suffering.
Our approach to online education reflects that vision. You’ll complete your online program from SHU prepared to make meaningful contributions to society.
“The professors were extremely helpful and worked with you; they were accessible and did everything they could to ensure you had a great learning experience. SHU is a great university; they truly care about their students and want to see you succeed.”
– Beverly Capasso, Parkland, Fla., RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Why Choose Sacred Heart?
- Benefit from small online class sizes designed to foster engagement
- Work on your own schedule with flexible online courses
- Receive one-on-one support, from application to graduation
- Ranked among the “Best National Universities” by U.S. News & World Report, 2024
Our esteemed faculty and our dedicated staff are here to support your online learning journey. They’ll mentor you as you pursue your personal and professional goals and help you discover your talents, abilities, strengths, dreams and character.
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Accreditation
We are accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), one of six regional associations in the United States that accredits schools and colleges. In addition to our regional accreditation, we also have programmatic accreditation:
- Social Work: Our online Master of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Nursing: Our online nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Recognition
Sacred Heart University is consistently well-ranked by U.S. News & World Report. We’re listed among the:
- Best Value Schools (2024)
- Best National University (2024)
- Best Colleges for Veterans (2024)
- Top Performers on Social Mobility (2024)
- Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs (2024)
- Best Graduate Nursing Program (2024)
- Best Graduate Social Work Program (2024)
Sacred Heart was ranked among The Princeton Review‘s “Best 389 Colleges” (2024).
We are also a five-time College of Distinction (2023–2024) recipient, an annual recognition given to only 200 schools in the country based on outstanding student engagement and teaching, vibrant communities and successful student outcomes.
What Sets Sacred Heart Apart?
- 16:1 faculty-to-student ratio
- Second-largest Catholic university in New England
- 80% of our faculty have the highest degree in their field
- A network of more than 56,000 SHU alumni from a total 69 countries
Our Mission
A commitment to truth and justice, service to others, intellectual support and nurturing.
Learn MoreOur Vision
We embrace a vision for social justice and educate students in mind, body and spirit.
We prepare students personally and professionally to make a difference in the global community.
The History of Sacred Heart University
Sacred Heart University was founded in 1963 as a private Roman Catholic university, located in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Our founder, the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis, the second bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, created Sacred Heart to serve his diocese and region, ensuring students of all backgrounds had a place to learn.
Sacred Heart, the name Curtis chose, had dual origins. In addition to being the name of his first pastorate in Bloomfield, N.J., Sacred Heart communicated Curtis’ belief in the importance of a higher-education institution that welcomed every person as an individual with inherent worth.
Today, we offer almost a dozen programs entirely online to fit our students’ lives. We’re New England’s second-largest Catholic university and one of the fastest-growing Catholic universities in the nation, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.