Bluefield State College vs. Shepherd University

Should I go to Bluefield State College or Shepherd University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bluefield State College or Shepherd University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Bluefield State College vs. Shepherd University comparison
Bluefield State College Shepherd University College 3 College 4
Shepherd University
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Overview

Bluefield State College Shepherd University
Location Bluefield, WV Shepherdstown, WV
Setting Rural Fringe Town Fringe
Enrollment 1,306 3,235
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #986 #866
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bluefieldstate.edu shepherd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bluefield State College Shepherd University
Tuition (In State) $8,840 $6,288
Tuition (Out of State) $16,030 $15,774
Room & Board $10,200 $10,987
Avg Net Price $11,759 $9,827
Avg Grant Aid $10,160 $7,328
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 93%

Admission

Bluefield State College Shepherd University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 813 1,690
Admitted 790 1,620
Acceptance Rate 97.2% 95.9%
Enrolled % 33.4% 34.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/22 19/24
SAT Range 870/1080 930/1170
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Bluefield State College Shepherd University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (29%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Engineering Technology (16%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Bluefield State College Shepherd University
Graduation Rate 22% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $31,800 $41,500
Making Student Loan Payments 30% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,000 $22,223
Median Loan Payment $196 $229

Diversity

Bluefield State College Shepherd University
% Men 40% 37%
% Women 60% 63%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 85% 82%
% Black 9% 10%
% Hispanic 1% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Bluefield State College Shepherd University
% In-State 54% 64%
% Out-of-State 46% 35%

Campus

Bluefield State College Shepherd University
Campus Housing No Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Shepherd University is larger than than Bluefield State College based on total student enrollment (3,235 students vs. 1,306 students)

Bluefield State College vs. Shepherd University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bluefield State College or Shepherd University?

  • Bluefield State College is 40.6% more expensive to attend than Shepherd University for in-state tuition ($8,840.00 vs. $6,288.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.6% higher at Bluefield State College than Shepherd University ($16,030.00 vs. $15,774.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shepherd University than Bluefield State College ($9,827 vs. $11,759)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bluefield State College are 7.7% lower than costs at Shepherd University ($10,200 vs. $10,987)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bluefield State College than Shepherd University (96% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bluefield State College students is 38.6% larger than aid received Shepherd University ($10,160 vs. $7,328)

Bluefield State College vs. Shepherd University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bluefield State College or Shepherd University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Shepherd University or Bluefield State College .

  • The average SAT score at Shepherd University (995) is 61 points higher than at Bluefield State College (934)
  • Incoming Shepherd University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Bluefield State College (20)
  • Accepted freshman Shepherd University students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Bluefield State College (3.41)
  • Bluefield State College has a higher acceptance rate (97.2%) than Shepherd University (95.9%)

Bluefield State College vs. Shepherd University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bluefield State College or Shepherd University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Shepherd University and Bluefield State College.

  • The graduation rate at Shepherd University is higher than Bluefield State College (46% vs. 22%)
  • Graduates from Shepherd University earn on average $9,700 more per year than Bluefield State College graduates after ten years. ($41,500 vs. $31,800)
  • Bluefield State College students graduate with a $3,223 lower median federal student loan debt than Shepherd University graduates. ($19,000 vs. $22,223)
  • Bluefield State College graduates are paying $33 less per month on federal student loans than Shepherd University graduates. ($196 vs. $229)
  • More Shepherd University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bluefield State College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 30%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/