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Ferris State University West Virginia University Tech Frostburg State University Millersville University of Pennsylvania Ship Concord University Kutztown University of Pennsylvania WVU SU Marshall University Old Dominion Fairmont State| Bluefield State College | Shepherd University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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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 | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 15:1 | ||
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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/