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About Sacred Heart University

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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?

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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Fill out the form below and a skilled and knowledgeable Admissions Representative will get in touch to answer your questions and help with the application process.

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.

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Our 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.

Our Values

The Common Good

We’re committed to justice and service to others, especially those underserved by society.

Fearless Inquiry

We cultivate and encourage critical thinking skills, thoughtful consideration, analysis of situations, and the development of coherent conclusions.

Diverse Perspectives

To support our students’ educational and spiritual journeys, we continually strive to foster a large and diverse community.

Tradition + Progress

We’re rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts and we welcome diverse viewpoints in our search for understanding and enlightenment.

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.