What is Seton Hall University (SHU)?

Seton Hall University (SHU) is a Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, founded in 1856 and named for Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint. It enrolls undergraduate and graduate students on a residential main campus about 14 miles from New York City, and competes in NCAA Division I as a member of the BIG EAST Conference. If you are looking for a faith-based private university with close access to Manhattan and a strong internship pipeline, SHU fits that profile; if you need a secular public institution or a fully online-only school, it likely does not.

Where SHU is and how students get to New York City

The main campus sits in South Orange, New Jersey, roughly 14 miles from New York City. According to the university, students can reach Manhattan by train in about 30 minutes — useful for internships, games, concerts, and museums — and then return to a residential campus. That combination of a traditional campus life with quick big-city access is one of SHU's defining practical features.

What kind of university is it?

SHU describes itself as one of the nation's leading Catholic universities, "Catholic at our core and welcoming to all faiths." Its stated educational approach is to educate the whole person: students are expected to graduate as critical thinkers with the compassion and conviction to serve, plus the resilience to keep going when things are hard. The university traces its founding to Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley in 1856, who envisioned a place where faith would be nurtured and great minds could take flight.

Academics and experiential learning

SHU offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. Featured programs highlighted by the university include:

• Cybersecurity, M.S.
• Management, M.B.A.
• Nursing, B.S.N.

A distinctive claim is how early and how often students do hands-on work. SHU says students begin internships, research, clinical placements, and studio work as soon as they arrive on campus, and that 83% of students participate in at least one experiential learning opportunity before graduation. The university also cites 17K+ professional work experiences offered.

By the numbers

These are the university's own figures and rankings, so treat them as SHU's positioning rather than independent verification.

Campus life and athletics

The main campus is residential, and SHU competes in NCAA Division I in the BIG EAST Conference — teams are known as the Pirates ("GO PIRATES!"). Student engagement and athletics are part of the campus experience the university promotes alongside its academic programs.

Visits and admissions events

SHU runs open house events for both prospective undergraduate and graduate students, where attendees can explore academic programs, connect with faculty and students, tour campus, and learn about admissions. The page lists a Graduate Open House on 10/14 and an Undergraduate Open House on 10/18, with registration open. Dates and formats can change, so confirm current details on the university's visit pages before planning travel.

Who SHU is a good fit for

• Consider SHU if you want a Catholic, faith-friendly private university, value a residential campus with fast train access to New York City internships and culture, and are interested in programs like nursing, business, or cybersecurity.
• Look elsewhere if you want a large public research university, a strictly secular environment, or a school with no religious affiliation.

For program-specific requirements, costs, and deadlines, check the relevant SHU department or admissions page directly, since those details vary by program and change by term.