Bowie State University vs. Shepherd University

Should I go to Bowie State University or Shepherd University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bowie State University 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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Bowie State University vs. Shepherd University comparison
Bowie State University Shepherd University College 3 College 4
Bowie State University Shepherd University
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Overview

Bowie State University Shepherd University
Location Bowie, MD Shepherdstown, WV
Setting Large Suburban Town Fringe
Enrollment 6,408 3,318
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #943 #884
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowiestate.edu shepherd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowie State University Shepherd University
Tuition (In State) $5,993 $6,288
Tuition (Out of State) $16,883 $15,774
Room & Board $13,272 $11,308
Avg Net Price $16,117 $12,651
Avg Grant Aid $8,730 $8,183
% Receiving Grant Aid 62% 95%

Admission

Bowie State University Shepherd University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,245 1,793
Admitted 5,217 1,715
Acceptance Rate 83.5% 95.6%
Enrolled % 19% 33%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 3.6
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/24
SAT Range 796/1083 900/1140
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 May 15, 2026

Academics

Bowie State University Shepherd University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Bowie State University Shepherd University
Graduation Rate 41% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,500 $41,500
Making Student Loan Payments 29% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,391 $22,223
Median Loan Payment $252 $229

Diversity

Bowie State University Shepherd University
% Men 5% 3%
% Women 12% 9%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 3% 82%
% Black 86% 10%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Bowie State University Shepherd University
% In-State 78% 72%
% Out-of-State 19% 27%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bowie State University is larger than than Shepherd University based on total student enrollment (6,408 students vs. 3,318 students)

Bowie State University vs. Shepherd University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowie State University or Shepherd University?

  • Shepherd University is 4.9% more expensive to attend than Bowie State University for in-state tuition ($6,288.00 vs. $5,993.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7% higher at Bowie State University than Shepherd University ($16,883.00 vs. $15,774.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shepherd University than Bowie State University ($12,651 vs. $16,117)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shepherd University are 17.4% lower than costs at Bowie State University ($11,308 vs. $13,272)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shepherd University than Bowie State University (95% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowie State University students is 6.7% larger than aid received Shepherd University ($8,730 vs. $8,183)

Bowie State University vs. Shepherd University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Shepherd University (995) is 112 points higher than at Bowie State University (883)
  • Incoming Shepherd University students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Bowie State University (18)
  • Accepted freshman Shepherd University students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Bowie State University (3.12)
  • Shepherd University has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than Bowie State University (83.5%)

Bowie State University vs. Shepherd University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bowie State University 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 Bowie State University.

  • The graduation rate at Shepherd University is higher than Bowie State University (46% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Bowie State University earn on average $9,000 more per year than Shepherd University graduates after ten years. ($50,500 vs. $41,500)
  • Shepherd University students graduate with a $2,168 lower median federal student loan debt than Bowie State University graduates. ($22,223 vs. $24,391)
  • Shepherd University graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Bowie State University graduates. ($229 vs. $252)
  • More Shepherd University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowie State University students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 29%)

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