Fayetteville State University vs. Shepherd University

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

Fayetteville State University Shepherd University
Location Fayetteville, NC Shepherdstown, WV
Setting Midsize City Town Fringe
Enrollment 6,847 3,318
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1002 #884
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uncfsu.edu shepherd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fayetteville State University Shepherd University
Tuition (In State) $1,000 $6,288
Tuition (Out of State) $5,000 $15,774
Room & Board $11,302 $11,308
Avg Net Price $7,298 $12,651
Avg Grant Aid $8,589 $8,183
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 95%

Admission

Fayetteville State University Shepherd University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,043 1,793
Admitted 4,029 1,715
Acceptance Rate 79.9% 95.6%
Enrolled % 20% 33%
Avg High School GPA 3.11 3.6
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20 20/24
SAT Range 855/1045 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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Fayetteville State University Shepherd University
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (18%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Psychology (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Fayetteville State University Shepherd University
Graduation Rate 31% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,500 $41,500
Making Student Loan Payments 28% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,161 $22,223
Median Loan Payment $229 $229

Diversity

Fayetteville State University Shepherd University
% Men 5% 3%
% Women 10% 9%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 19% 82%
% Black 64% 10%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 3% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 6% 1%

Students

Fayetteville State University Shepherd University
% In-State 78% 72%
% Out-of-State 15% 27%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Fayetteville State University is larger than than Shepherd University based on total student enrollment (6,847 students vs. 3,318 students)

Fayetteville State University vs. Shepherd University Cost Comparison

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

  • Shepherd University is 528.8% more expensive to attend than Fayetteville State University for in-state tuition ($6,288.00 vs. $1,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 215.5% higher at Shepherd University than Fayetteville State University ($15,774.00 vs. $5,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fayetteville State University than Shepherd University ($7,298 vs. $12,651)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fayetteville State University are 0.1% lower than costs at Shepherd University ($11,302 vs. $11,308)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shepherd University than Fayetteville State University (95% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fayetteville State University students is 5% larger than aid received Shepherd University ($8,589 vs. $8,183)

Fayetteville State University vs. Shepherd University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville State University .

  • The average SAT score at Shepherd University (995) is 125 points higher than at Fayetteville State University (870)
  • Incoming Shepherd University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Fayetteville State University (19)
  • Accepted freshman Shepherd University students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Fayetteville State University (3.11)
  • Shepherd University has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than Fayetteville State University (79.9%)

Fayetteville State University vs. Shepherd University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville State University.

  • The graduation rate at Shepherd University is higher than Fayetteville State University (46% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Shepherd University earn on average $9,000 more per year than Fayetteville State University graduates after ten years. ($41,500 vs. $32,500)
  • Fayetteville State University students graduate with a $62 lower median federal student loan debt than Shepherd University graduates. ($22,161 vs. $22,223)
  • Shepherd University and Fayetteville State University graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($229 vs. $229)
  • More Shepherd University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fayetteville State University students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 28%)

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