College Gazette Names SHU Best Hidden Gem

Excellence in rankings, research, student satisfaction and employment of graduates led to College Gazette ranking

The source on higher education news, College Gazette, rounded up a list of 10 “hidden gem” universities in New England. To be considered a “hidden gem,” a college had to demonstrate excellence over the last decade in the form of research, rankings, employment rating of graduates, student satisfaction and more. The schools ranked have significant expenditures, contribute to the local economy and have high employment rates.

College Gazette said Sacred Heart isn’t just a “great hidden gem, but is also one of the nation’s premiere Catholic colleges.”

“It is wonderful to be recognized as the number one ‘hidden gem’ university in New England, although we don’t think we are all that ‘hidden’ anymore,” said President John J. Petillo. “Acknowledgments like this are the result of hard work by our students, faculty and staff. This ranking only confirms that SHU is invested in its community and is serious about providing students with a first-rate educational experience in state-of-the-art facilities and world-class faculty.”

College Gazette said SHU’s “highly-rated offerings include Sacred Heart’s nursing program, which featured a 100 percent pass rate in the class of 2018 for the NCLEX (licensing exam for nurses). The average pass rate throughout the US is just 73 percent.”

The publication also sourced Zippia, a website that helps people achieve their career aspirations, which said SHU was one of the top five universities in Connecticut for getting a job. College Gazette said, “amazingly, in 2017, 98 percent of their students found employment within one year of graduation.”