Shepherd University

Shepherd University is a public, state school in a small town setting in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Shepherd University was founded in 1871 and now enrolls around 3,159 students a year, including 2,716 undergrads. Shepherd University provides housing for up to 1,038 students. Most students live in off campus housing, and 40% of students spend their weekends on campus .

There are many ways for students to get involved at Shepherd University! Love music or performing? Join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of Shepherd University's theater groups.

Interested in journalism or communications? Shepherd University students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Excited for Greek life? Shepherd University has fraternities and sororities.

Planning to play sports? Shepherd University has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at Shepherd University on the Student Life page.

Learn more about life at Shepherd University on the Student Life page.

2021 Shepherd University Facts At-A-Glance
Academic Calendar	Semester
Overall Acceptance Rate	98%
Average GPA	3.6
Applicants Submitting SAT scores	74%
In-State Tuition	$7,784
Out-of-State	$18,224
Percent of Need Met	81.28%
Average First-Year Financial Aid Package	$13,505

Is Shepherd University a Good School?

There is no one way to define a "good" college or university. Admissions criteria, acceptance rate and average GPA are good indicators of how selective an institution is, but they don't say much about the quality of the education or the student experience. However, there are a few good ways to get a better sense how satisfied students are and how well a school supports its student body.

Let's take a closer look at to get a clearer idea of what Shepherd University offers and if it sounds like a good choice for you.

2021 Acceptance Rate for Shepherd University

It is slightly difficult to get into Shepherd University. Around 98% of applicants get into Shepherd University each year. Last year, 1,651 students applied to Shepherd University and 1,613 were admitted.

Retention and Graduation Rates at Shepherd University

Retention is the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

About 73% of students who start at Shepherd University return the next year. Shepherd University's six-year graduation rate for undergrads is 49%. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.

Job Outlook Shepherd University Graduates

Job placement statistics for recent graduates can give you a sense of the return on investment a school offers. Within six months of graduating, 57% of graduates receive at least one full-time job offer.

Shepherd University's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and support students. As of 2021, the total market value of the school endowment was $25.3 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. The school spends $6,065 for each full-time student enrolled.

Tuition and Financial Aid at Shepherd University

Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need. Shepherd University meets 81.28% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend Shepherd University full-time are awarded $13,505 a year in financial aid, on average.

Students in the class of 2021 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $28,630 of debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2022-2023 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2021

Some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA as soon as you can. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so don't give your money (or info!) to any website that claim you do.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at Shepherd University. Based on this information, how does Shepherd University sound? Remember, the best school for one person may not be the right school for someone else! So ask yourself: Is Shepherd University a good school for you?

If Shepherd University seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

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Where is Shepherd University?

Shepherd University is located in the small town setting of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, less than an hour from Washington and D.C..

If you want to see Shepherd University for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 70 to Shepherdstown, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Dulles International.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what Shepherd University and Shepherdstown are like without leaving home.

Considering Going to School in West Virginia?

See a full list of colleges in West Virginia and save your favorites to your college list.