Shepherd University

www.shepherd.edu/

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$5,790

2021 Average Net Price

$10,360

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

3.98%

Default Rate

2021 Acceptance Rate

96.4%

1,338 Applicants

2021 Enrolled Students

3,015

72.5% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

44.1%

278 Graduates

About

Shepherd University is a higher education institution located in Jefferson County, WV. In 2021, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Shepherd University were General Studies (69 degrees awarded), General Business Administration & Management (57 degrees), and Registered Nursing (56 degrees).

In 2021, 630 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Shepherd University. 59.5% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 40.5% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (499 degrees), 11.1 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (45 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Shepherd University is $5,790, which is $−22,715 less than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,505).

Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus Baccalaureate Colleges

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Shepherd University is $5,790, which is $−22,715 less than the national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,505).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $10,360.

In 2021, 68% of undergraduate students attending Shepherd University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 46% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$5,790

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Shepherd University was $5,790. The cost of tuition at Shepherd University is $−22,715 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Baccalaureate Colleges ($28,505).

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

Average Net Price

$10,360

2021 Value

3.04%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Shepherd University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $10,360. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Shepherd University grew by 3.04%.

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

$10,750

Room and Board

$1,000

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Shepherd University was of $10,750 in 2021. The cost of room and board did not change between 2020 and 2021.

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

68%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

46%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

68% of undergraduate students at Shepherd University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a growth of 13.3% with respect to 2020, when 60% 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.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

3.98%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Shepherd University was 3.98%, which represents 34 out of the 855 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Shepherd University received 1,338 undergraduate applications in 2021, which represents a 19% annual growth. Out of those 1,338 applicants, 1,290 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 96.4% acceptance rate.

There were 3,015 students enrolled at Shepherd University in 2021. 47% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Shepherd University has an overall enrollment yield of 32.5%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

96.4%

Acceptance Rate in 2021

1,290

Accepted Out of 1,338

In 2021, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Shepherd University was 96.4% (1,290 admissions from 1,338 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2020, which was 97.7%. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of applicants grew by 19%, while admissions declined by −20%..

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

47%

Submission Percentage (2021)

199

Scores Submitted (2021)

47% of enrolled first-time students at Shepherd University in 2021 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Shepherd University had a total enrollment of 3,015 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Shepherd University is 2,185 students and the part-time enrollment is 830. This means that 72.5% of students enrolled at Shepherd University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Shepherd University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 73.3% White, 8.16% Black or African American, 6.83% Hispanic or Latino, 4.84% Two or More Races, 2.29% Asian, 0.299% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.133% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Shepherd University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (45.9%), followed by White Male (26.4%) and Black or African American Male (5.29%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (44.8%), followed by White Male (26.9%) and Black or African American Female (6.9%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

72.5%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Shepherd University in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 3,015 students. The full-time enrollment at Shepherd University is 2,185 and the part-time enrollment is 830. This means that 72.5% of students enrolled at Shepherd University are enrolled full-time compared with 79.9% at similar Baccalaureate Colleges.

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

Retention Rate over Time

66%

2021 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 66%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Baccalaureate Colleges (72%), 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 (2021)

White
2,209 enrolled students
Black or African American
246 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
206 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Shepherd University is 73.3% White, 8.16% Black or African American, 6.83% Hispanic or Latino, 4.84% Two or More Races, 2.29% Asian, 0.299% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.133% 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 Baccalaureate Colleges is 55% White, 13.5% Black or African American, and 13.4% Hispanic or Latino.

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, 84 students (2.79%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 120 more women than men received degrees from Shepherd University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Shepherd University is white (499 degrees awarded). There were 11.1 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (45 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Shepherd University is General Studies (69 degrees awarded), followed by General Business Administration & Management (57 degrees) and Registered Nursing (56 degrees).

In 2021, 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 History (17 degrees awarded), Natural Resources & Conservation (13 degrees), and Physical Sciences (20 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 (211,639 people), Other managers (193,178 people), Postsecondary teachers (187,870 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (184,186 people), and Secondary school teachers (139,743 people).

The most specialized majors at Shepherd University in 2021 are History (17 degrees awarded), Natural Resources & Conservation (13 degrees), Physical Sciences (20 degrees), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (27 degrees), and English (12 degrees) (as of 2021).

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, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, Physicians, and Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents

The most specialized majors at Shepherd University are History (17 degrees awarded), Natural Resources & Conservation (13 degrees), Physical Sciences (20 degrees), Parks, Recreation, & Leisure (27 degrees), and English (12 degrees) (as of 2021).

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 (479,927 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (378,951 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (187,461 people), Legal services (148,776 people), and Computer Systems Design (146,007 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 (2021)

General Studies
69 degree-majors awarded
General Business Administration & Management
57 degree-majors awarded
Registered Nursing
56 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Shepherd University was General Studies with 69 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

255

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

375

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 255 degrees were awarded to men at Shepherd University, which is 0.68 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (375).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 49 degrees were awarded to men at Shepherd University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.53 times more than the 32 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 50 degrees were awarded to men at Shepherd University in Registered Nursing, which is 8.33 times more than the 6 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

31%

100% Completion Time

49%

150% Completion Time

In 2021, 31% of students graduating from Shepherd University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 49% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 51% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Baccalaureate Colleges 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.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

American Indian or Alaska Native Male

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at Shepherd University is Male and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Baccalaureate Colleges, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
499 degrees awarded
Black or African American
45 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
34 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Shepherd University is white (499 degrees awarded). There were 11.1 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (45 degrees).

2.54% of degree recipients (16 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Female
302 degrees awarded
White Male
197 degrees awarded
Black or African American Male
28 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Shepherd University is white female (302 degrees awarded). There were 1.53 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (197 degrees).

Operations

Shepherd University has an endowment valued at nearly $30.5M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 15.3k (0.05%) compared to the 17.4% average return (9.13M on 52.4M) across all Baccalaureate Colleges.

In 2021, Shepherd University had a total salary expenditure of 53.1M. Shepherd University employs 48 Associate professors, 36 Assistant professors and 34 Professors. Most academics at Shepherd University are Male Associate professor (24), Female Associate professor (24), and Female Assistant professor (20).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Shepherd University are: Office and Administrative Support, with 53 employees, Management, with 47 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 39 employees.

Endowment

$30.5M

2021 Endowment

26.5%

growth from 2020

Shepherd University has an endowment valued at about $30.5M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of Shepherd University grew 26.5% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $21.9M lower than than the median endowment of Baccalaureate Colleges 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 Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$25.4M

2021 Salaries

0.347%

growth from 2020

In 2021, Shepherd University paid a median of $25.4M in salaries, which represents 47.9% of their overall expenditure ($53.1M) and a 0.347% growth from the previous year.

The median for similar Baccalaureate Colleges is 15.1M (38.9% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$8.66M

Instructional Salaries

132

Number of Employees

In 2021, Shepherd University paid a total of $8.66M to 132 employees working as instructors, which represents 34.1% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $4.92M (32.5%) for similar Baccalaureate Colleges.

Occupations by Share

Associate professor

Most Common Instructor

48 Employees

Office and Administrative Support

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

53 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Shepherd University were Associate professor with 48 employees, Assistant professor with 36 employees, and Professor with 34 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Shepherd University were Office and Administrative Support with 53 employees, Management with 47 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 39 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Male Associate professor
Female Associate professor
Female Assistant professor

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Shepherd University was Male Associate professor with 24 employees, Female Associate professor with 24 employees, and Female Assistant professor with 20 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Shepherd University.