Sacred Heart University

Sacred Heart University was founded in 1963 by the Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis, second bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, to provide an institution of higher education that would serve the people of the diocese and region, regardless of sex, race, creed or religion.

Signs of the University’s growth and vibrancy are evident. Over the years, Sacred Heart has grown to become the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England and, according to the  Chronicle of Higher Education , one of the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the country.

‌New degree programs and majors in relevant disciplines are regularly added to SHU’s curriculum, and the University now offers more than 80 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its campus in Fairfield, CT, and satellite campus in Dingle, Ireland. The University consists of six colleges and three schools.

The Princeton Review's 2024 guidebook, The Best 389 Colleges, places SHU among the best universities while U.S. News & World Report’s guidebook, Best Colleges 2023, reports Sacred Heart as one of the best universities in the nation.

The University offers Division I athletics with 33 varsity teams.

West Campus currently houses the College of Education & Human Development and College of Business & Technology, which includes the School of Computer Science & Engineering. West Campus is an innovative campus with an IDEA Lab for engineering students and incubator space where business students can work with local businesspeople on projects. West Campus is also home to the Martire Family Arena, SHU’s $70 million premier hockey and skating arena.

‌The Frank and Marisa Martire Center for the Liberal Arts is home to the School of Communication, Media & the Arts. The Center for Healthcare Education opened in the fall of 2017 with 117,000 square feet of exceptional laboratory and learning facilities.  ‌Located in the heart of campus, Jorge Bergoglio Hall houses over 200 students in two-bedroom pods with a shared bathroom. Located in SHU’s Upper Quad is the newly established Pioneer Village, which includes student housing and dining options like JP’s Diner.  

An ever-widening outreach to the community balances the University’s commitment to academic excellence. More than 1,800 students, faculty and staff members volunteer in excess of 115,000 hours to community service each year.