Shepherd University

www.shepherd.edu

Add Comparison

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$6,702

6.58% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$11,744

After Financial Aid

2024 Acceptance Rate

96.8%

1,646 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

3,339

69.2% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

51%

298 Graduates

About

Shepherd University is a higher education institution located in Jefferson County, WV. In 2024, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Shepherd University were General Business Administration & Management (76 degrees awarded), Registered Nursing (68 degrees), and General Studies (58 degrees).

In 2024, 616 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Shepherd University. 63.8% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 36.2% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (456 degrees), 10.9 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (42 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Shepherd University is $6,702, which is $−17,298 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,000).

Masters Colleges & Universities: Small Programs Masters Colleges and Universities

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Shepherd University is $6,702, which is $17,298 less than the national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,000).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $11,744.

In 2024, 65% of undergraduate students attending Shepherd University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 39% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$6,702

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Shepherd University was $6,702. The cost of tuition at Shepherd University is $−17,298 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Masters Colleges and Universities ($24,000).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Shepherd University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$11,744

2024 Value

7.17%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Shepherd University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $11,744. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Shepherd University grew by 7.17%.

This chart compares the average net price of Shepherd University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$11,404

Room and Board

$1,000

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Shepherd University was of $11,404 in 2024. The cost of room and board decreased by 6.06% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,000. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Shepherd University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

65%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

39%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

65% of undergraduate students at Shepherd University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 1.56% with respect to 2023, when 64% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Shepherd University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Admissions

Shepherd University received 1,646 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 8.2% annual growth. Out of those 1,646 applicants, 1,593 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 96.8% acceptance rate.

There were 3,339 students enrolled at Shepherd University in 2024. 54% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Shepherd University has an overall enrollment yield of 31.7%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

96.8%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

1,593

Accepted Out of 1,646

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Shepherd University was 96.8% (1,593 admissions from 1,646 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 95.6%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants declined by 8.2%, while admissions declined by 7.11%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Shepherd University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

54%

Submission Percentage (2024)

271

Scores Submitted (2024)

54% of enrolled first-time students at Shepherd University in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Shepherd University had a total enrollment of 3,339 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Shepherd University is 2,310 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,029. This means that 69.2% of students enrolled at Shepherd University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Shepherd University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 72.9% White, 8.12% Hispanic or Latino, 7.31% Black or African American, 5.72% Two or More Races, 1.65% Asian, 0.419% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.18% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Shepherd University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (45.3%), followed by White Male (26.9%) and Black or African American Male (5.26%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (48.7%), followed by White Male (21.3%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (5%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

69.2%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Shepherd University in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 3,339 students. The full-time enrollment at Shepherd University is 2,310 and the part-time enrollment is 1,029. This means that 69.2% of students enrolled at Shepherd University are enrolled full-time compared with 67.1% at similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Shepherd University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

71%

2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Shepherd University was 71%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Masters Colleges and Universities (73%), Shepherd University had a retention rate lower than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Shepherd University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
2,434 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
271 enrolled students
Black or African American
244 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Shepherd University is 72.9% White, 8.12% Hispanic or Latino, 7.31% Black or African American, 5.72% Two or More Races, 1.65% Asian, 0.419% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.18% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Masters Colleges and Universities is 47.4% White, 18.8% Hispanic or Latino, and 13.6% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 98 students (2.94%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 170 more women than men received degrees from Shepherd University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Shepherd University is white (456 degrees awarded). There were 10.9 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (42 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Shepherd University is General Business Administration & Management (76 degrees awarded), followed by Registered Nursing (68 degrees) and General Studies (58 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Shepherd University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Natural Resources & Conservation (16 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (31 degrees), and Cultural & Gender Studies (5 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Shepherd University are Elementary & middle school teachers (190,746 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (185,515 people), Other managers (165,957 people), Secondary school teachers (150,558 people), and Postsecondary teachers (120,975 people).

The most specialized majors at Shepherd University in 2024 are Natural Resources & Conservation (16 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (31 degrees), Cultural & Gender Studies (5 degrees), English (16 degrees), and History (7 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Shepherd University are Surgeons, Diagnostic medical sonographers, Logisticians, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, and Economists

The most specialized majors at Shepherd University are Natural Resources & Conservation (16 degrees awarded), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (31 degrees), Cultural & Gender Studies (5 degrees), English (16 degrees), and History (7 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Shepherd University are Elementary & secondary schools (488,218 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (287,905 people), Legal services (150,658 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (148,826 people), and Computer Systems Design (124,297 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Shepherd University.

Most Common (2024)

General Business Administration & Management
76 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
68 degrees awarded
General Studies
58 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Shepherd University was General Business Administration & Management with 76 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Shepherd University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

223

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

393

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 223 degrees were awarded to men at Shepherd University, which is 0.567 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (393).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Shepherd University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 56 degrees were awarded to men at Shepherd University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.3 times more than the 43 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 59 degrees were awarded to men at Shepherd University in Registered Nursing, which is 6.56 times more than the 9 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

35%

100% Completion Time

48%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 35% of students graduating from Shepherd University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 48% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 48% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Masters Colleges and Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
456 degrees awarded
Black or African American
42 degrees awarded
Two or More Races
37 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Shepherd University is white (456 degrees awarded). There were 10.9 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (42 degrees).

2.11% of degree recipients (13 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Female
454 degrees awarded
White Female
437 degrees awarded
White Female
423 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Shepherd University is white female (454 degrees awarded). There were 1.04 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (437 degrees).

Operations

Shepherd University has an endowment valued at nearly $33.7M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 484k (1.44%) compared to the 9.2% average return (4.22M on 45.9M) across all Masters Colleges and Universities.

In 2024, Shepherd University had a total salary expenditure of 53.4M. Shepherd University employs 38 Associate professors, 34 Professors and 30 Assistant professors. Most academics at Shepherd University are Female Associate professor (20), Male Professor (18), and Male Associate professor (18).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Shepherd University are: Management, with 50 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 35 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 33 employees.

Endowment

$33.7M

2024 Endowment

13.5%

growth from 2023

Shepherd University has an endowment valued at about $33.7M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Shepherd University grew 13.5% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $12.1M lower than than the median endowment of Masters Colleges and Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Shepherd University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Masters Colleges & Universities: Small Programs Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$24.8M

2024 Salaries

2.09%

decline from 2023

In 2024, Shepherd University paid a median of $24.8M in salaries, which represents 46.4% of their overall expenditure ($53.4M) and a 2.09% decline from the previous year. This is compared to a 1.37% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 1.71% decline between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$7.8M

Instructional Salaries

111

Number of Employees

In 2024, Shepherd University paid a total of $7.8M to 111 employees working as instructors, which represents 31.5% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $965k (3.13%) for similar Masters Colleges and Universities.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Shepherd University were Management with 50 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 35 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 33 employees.

Keep Exploring

Grand View University

University

Belmont Abbey College

University

Texas Lutheran University