Shepherd University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and families looking for lower cost. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 2,344 students.
About This School
Shepherd University is a public institution located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia with approximately 2,344 undergraduate students enrolled. Shepherd University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 97%. The average net price after financial aid is $11,363 per year. The graduation rate is 51%, and the typical graduate earns $43,000 within 10 years of enrollment.
Shepherd University is a public university in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, United States. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. In the fall of 2023, the university enrolled 3,274 students.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: at $12,391/year average net price and only $14,297 in median debt at graduation, this is one of the more affordable paths to a degree you'll find anywhere. The concern worth taking seriously is the 49% graduation rate — meaning roughly half of students who start don't finish — which, combined with median earnings of $43,000 a decade out, suggests you'll want a clear plan and strong reasons for choosing this school rather than just arriving and hoping for the best.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 9% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Shepherd University graduates earn most above the national rate in Sociology ($63,412 vs $52,657 nationally), and most below it in Computer and Information Sciences, General ($74,218 vs $92,374).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 66 | $78,764 | $88,910 | −$10,146 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 65 | $49,153 | $53,072 | −$3,919 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 59 | $62,588 | $68,257 | −$5,669 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 41 | $48,992 | $47,382 | +$1,610 |
| Social Work | 28 | $48,122 | $51,790 | −$3,668 |
| Psychology, General | 25 | $41,344 | $50,706 | −$9,362 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | 25 | $51,789 | $50,983 | +$806 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 24 | $50,124 | $41,367 | +$8,757 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 24 | $74,218 | $92,374 | −$18,156 |
| Sociology | 19 | $63,412 | $52,657 | +$10,755 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 19 | $50,353 | $56,359 | −$6,006 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 16 | $46,797 | $55,012 | −$8,215 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2,344 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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West Liberty University
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See How Colleges Compare
Shepherd University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Shepherd University?
Shepherd University has an acceptance rate of 97%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Shepherd University hard to get into?
Not especially. Shepherd University has an acceptance rate of 97%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Shepherd University cost?
The average net price at Shepherd University is about $11,363 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Shepherd University?
Shepherd University has a graduation rate of 51%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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