Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, WV
Shepherd University is a public university located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Established in 1871, it has a rich history and a strong focus on liberal arts education. The university offers a wide range of programs, including over 90 undergraduate majors and minors, as well as graduate programs in various fields.
One of the unique aspects of Shepherd University is its small class sizes, which allow for personalized attention and interaction between students and faculty. This creates a supportive learning environment where students can actively engage in discussions and receive mentorship from experienced professors. Additionally, the university places a strong emphasis on experiential learning, offering internships, research opportunities, and study abroad programs to enrich students' educational experiences.
Shepherd University also boasts a vibrant campus life, with numerous clubs, organizations, and athletic teams for students to get involved in. The university is a member of the NCAA Division II and offers various sports programs, including basketball, soccer, volleyball, and track and field. Furthermore, Shepherdstown, the charming town in which the university is located, offers historical sites, cultural events, and outdoor recreational activities, providing students with a well-rounded college experience.
Shepherd University is a public university located in Shepherdstown, WV. Its campus spans 325 acres. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 97%. The freshman retention rate at Shepherd University is 73.32% and the six-year graduation rate is 49%.
Find out more about what you can expect if you get into Shepherd University.
Quick Facts
2,716
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
97%
Acceptance Rate
14:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
49%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to discover as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the school in order to increase your chances of being accepted. How difficult is it to get admitted to Shepherd University and what are the admission requirements?
According to the newest data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,613 in 2021. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively easy to get into.
Test Scores
74% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 21% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 14% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between between 1,200 and 1,399, 43% between 1,000 and 1,199, 41% of the students between 800 and 999, and 2% between 600 and 799. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 5, 40 between 24-29, 45 in the range between 18-23, and 10 between 12-17.
The average ACT score for all the admitted students in 2021 was 23 while the average GPA was 3.6. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted as well as an above-average ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 538 for the enrolled first-year students, while the average SAT Math score was 513.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university first-year students who return for their sophomore year. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
The freshman retention rate for Shepherd University was 73.32% in 2021, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at this institution.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 49%.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the perfect match for you. You can better understand the culture and life of the school by getting to know more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2021, the institution enrolled 3,159 students.
That year, the school had 33% of out-of-state students. There was a total of 2,716 those pursuing undergraduate studies, including 34 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 191.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 982 male and 1,400 female full-time students in 2021. 44 full-time graduate men and 83 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
The significance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2021, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 51, and the number of Black American students was 188. 162 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 123 identified with more than one race. The school also had 3 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 10 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 63 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Shepherd University.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Shepherd University? Here is what you need to know.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $6,288. Tuition fees were $6,288 for students coming from out of state. For international students, tuition fees at this school stood at $6,288, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students summed up to $1,994 in 2021.
| Tuition | Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $6,288 | $1,994 | $8,282 |
| In-State | $6,288 | $1,994 | $8,282 |
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
At Shepherd University, the 2021 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $11,308. If you only wanted a dorm room, it cost $5,798 for the 2021 academic year.
| Tuition | $ 6,288 |
| Room and Board | $ 11,308 |
| Total Expense | $ 17,596 |
Financial Aid
Financial aid for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Shepherd University, here are some recent data you should consider.
According to the most recent data, 311 freshmen were awarded financial aid. Students of this school received an average of $14,277 in financial help.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
There were 854 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Shepherd University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 1,199. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $3,903,795, and state $1,649,748.
$8,049
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
533 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2021. 174 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $4,586,867. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $637,914 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
14:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2021, this ratio at Shepherd University was 14:1. That means that there were 14 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 166 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 135 male and 146 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Shepherd University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some details about social life at Shepherd University.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 87. That includes sororities and fraternities. At this school, 3% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 4 for female students. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Program Board, followed by Sigma Sigma Sigma and Ram Marching Band. Other popular organizations among the students at Shepherd University are Student Government Association and Relay for Life.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Shepherd University band or chorus. If you're a fan of the performing arts, there is a drama club you can get involved in. Interested in media and communication? Shepherd University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Shepherd University has a number of services needed for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Shepherd University.
All in all, campus life at Shepherd University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Shepherd University.
Career Counselling
At Shepherd University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a job bank and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Shepherd University is located in Shepherdstown, WV.
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Shepherd University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Shepherd University is 97%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Shepherd University is 73.32%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.