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Economic score
Shepherd University is a public regional university located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Shepherd University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Shepherd University is in the top 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $45,723 10 years after enrolling, 8th in West Virginia, and in the bottom 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Shepherd University bachelor students earn 2% more than the national average. Shepherd University is ranked 2nd in West Virginia.
Shepherd University’s median net annual cost of $10,983 and average years to graduate of 4.6 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Shepherd University sorted by number of graduates - Liberal Arts and Sciences, Registered Nursing, Business Administration, Education, Computer science, Biology - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$10,983
Average years to graduate
4.6
Sociology
Rank: #10
Economic score: 1.57
Accounting
Rank: #267
Economic score: 2.63
Parks & Recreation Studies
Rank: #8
Economic score: 3.15
Psychology
Rank: #97
Economic score: 4.55
Fine & Studio Arts
Rank: #32
Economic score: 4.58
Economics
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 4.6
Social Work
Rank: #91
Economic score: 4.79
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #228
Economic score: 5.15
Natural Resource Conservation
Rank: #82
Economic score: 5.24
History
Rank: #317
Economic score: 14.23
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 2 graduate programs at Shepherd University - Business Administration, Student Counseling - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.6 years. 55% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Shepherd University is 7% higher than the state average, and 3% below the average for all regional universities in the country.
At Shepherd University, Pell Grant recipients represent 32% of the measured graduating class, 3% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Shepherd University graduates within 4.7 years.
Shepherd University is in the bottom 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Shepherd University’s economic mobility score of 23.12 is calculated by adjusting the 2.34 economic score of lower-income students by the 32% pell grant recipients within the student body. Shepherd University’s EMS of 23.12 ranks in the top 25% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 25%
The average Title IV recipient at Shepherd University pays $10,983 a year, $11,426 less than the $22,409 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $10,983
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Shepherd University, 87% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $10,983 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 53% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $6,673. This is 1% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,075
Pell grants
$4,569
State grants
$4,162
Institutional grants
$4,751
Shepherd University offers 1 exclusively online program. At the master’s level Shepherd University offers 2 programs, both of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
3
Percentage of programs online
7%
Shepherd University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 96% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 1,338 applicants, of which 1,290 were admitted and 419 enrolled. Shepherd University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
90%
83%
Female
60%
59%
First time
57%
59%
In-state
67%
68%
1st generation
41%
35%
White
74%
52%
Black
8%
14%
Hispanic
7%
15%
Asian
2%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
9%
12%