Shepherd University

Shepherd University Overview

Shepherd University is a public, state school in the small town setting of Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Shepherd University was founded in 1871 and the school presently has around 3,159 students a year, including 2,815 undergrad students. Shepherd University ensures on-campus housing for up to 1,038 students. The majority of students live on campus, and first year-students are required to live in campus housing. On the weekends, about 40% of students stay on-campus and participate in campus events and social life.

There are many ways for students to get involved at Shepherd University!

Interested in music or performing? Join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of the school's theater groups.

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

Interested in 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.

2022 Shepherd University Facts At-A-Glance
Academic Calendar	Semester
Overall Acceptance Rate	98%
Early Decision Acceptance Rate	ED not offered
Early Action Acceptance Rate	EA not offered
Average GPA	3.6
Applicants Submitting SAT scores	74%
In-State Tuition	$5,790
Out-of-State	$15,276
Percent of Need Met	75.37%
Average First-Year Financial Aid Package	$13,268

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Is Shepherd University a Good School?

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Different people have different ideas about what makes a "good" school. Some factors that can help you determine what a good school for you might be include admissions criteria, acceptance rate, tuition costs, and more.

Let's take a look at these areas to get a better idea of what Shepherd University offers and if it might be a good fit for you.

Shepherd University Acceptance Rate 2022

It is not 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 refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. Retention measures how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

Approximately 73% of students who start at Shepherd University come back the next year. Around 49% of students who started at Shepherd University earn their Bachelor's degrees within six years. Compare this to the average six-year graduation rate for colleges and universities in the U.S., which is around 61% for public schools and 67% for private.

Job Outlook Shepherd University Graduates

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

Check with Shepherd University directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.

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 Shepherd University's 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 75.37% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $13,268 a year.

Students in the class of 2022 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $30,616 of debt. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022

Some aid is available 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! No one should ever pay to fill out 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, a school that is perfect for one person may be a terrible fit for another! 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, in the suburbs of Washington and D.C..

If you are interested in seeing Shepherd University for yourself, be sure to 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 Colleges and Universities in West Virginia?

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