PennWest California vs. Shepherd University

Should I go to PennWest California or Shepherd University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if PennWest California 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
PennWest California vs. Shepherd University comparison
PennWest California Shepherd University College 3 College 4
PennWest California Shepherd University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

PennWest California Shepherd University
Location California, PA Shepherdstown, WV
Setting Town Fringe Town Fringe
Enrollment 6,509 3,235
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1033 #866
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calu.edu shepherd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

PennWest California Shepherd University
Tuition (In State) $7,716 $6,288
Tuition (Out of State) $11,574 $15,774
Room & Board $10,416 $10,987
Avg Net Price - $9,827
Avg Grant Aid $0 $7,328
% Receiving Grant Aid 0% 93%

Admission

PennWest California Shepherd University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 1,690
Admitted - 1,620
Acceptance Rate 95.9%
Enrolled % 34.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 19/24
SAT Range 940/1150 930/1170
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 22, 2025

Academics

PennWest California Shepherd University
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

Outcomes

PennWest California Shepherd University
Graduation Rate 53% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,500 $41,500
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $22,223
Median Loan Payment $258 $229

Diversity

PennWest California Shepherd University
% Men 39% 37%
% Women 61% 63%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 82%
% Black 12% 10%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

PennWest California Shepherd University
% In-State 86% 64%
% Out-of-State 13% 35%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • PennWest California is larger than than Shepherd University based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 3,235 students)

PennWest California vs. Shepherd University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PennWest California or Shepherd University?

  • PennWest California is 22.7% more expensive to attend than Shepherd University for in-state tuition ($7,716.00 vs. $6,288.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36.3% higher at Shepherd University than PennWest California ($15,774.00 vs. $11,574.00)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 5.5% lower than costs at Shepherd University ($10,416 vs. $10,987)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shepherd University than PennWest California (93% vs. 0%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shepherd University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($7,328 vs. $0)

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

  • The average SAT score at Shepherd University (995) is 73 points higher than at PennWest California (922)
  • Incoming Shepherd University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at PennWest California (20)
  • Accepted freshman Shepherd University students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at PennWest California (3.31)

PennWest California vs. Shepherd University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PennWest California 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 PennWest California.

  • The graduation rate at PennWest California is higher than Shepherd University (53% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from PennWest California earn on average $1,000 more per year than Shepherd University graduates after ten years. ($42,500 vs. $41,500)
  • Shepherd University students graduate with a $2,777 lower median federal student loan debt than PennWest California graduates. ($22,223 vs. $25,000)
  • Shepherd University graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than PennWest California graduates. ($229 vs. $258)
  • More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shepherd University students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 53%)

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