Five Towns College vs. Shepherd University

Comparable Facts

Compare Five Towns College in Dix Hills, NY with Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Shepherd University is larger than Five Towns College based on total student enrollment (3,339 students vs. 974 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Five Towns College is located in Dix Hills, NY (Large Suburban setting); Shepherd University is in Shepherdstown, WV (Town Fringe setting).
• Five Towns College is a private, for-profit 4-year institution. Shepherd University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Five Towns College 11:1; Shepherd University 17:1.

Five Towns College vs. Shepherd University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Five Towns College or Shepherd University? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shepherd University than Five Towns College ($11,744 vs. $24,724).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shepherd University are 13.9% lower than at Five Towns College ($12,916 vs. $15,000).
• Five Towns College is 234% more expensive for in-state tuition than Shepherd University (about $21,194 more per year; $30,250.00 vs. $9,056.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 58.5% higher at Five Towns College than at Shepherd University (about $11,168 more per year; $30,250.00 vs. $19,082.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Five Towns College than at Shepherd University (100% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Five Towns College students is 120.7% larger than aid received by Shepherd University students ($18,184 vs. $8,241).

Five Towns College vs. Shepherd University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Five Towns College or Shepherd University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Shepherd University and Five Towns College.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsShepherd University 878/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsShepherd University 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Five Towns College - Test-free; Shepherd University - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Shepherd University students have a 0.77 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Five Towns College (2.83).
• Shepherd University has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than Five Towns College (53.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 42.9% at Five Towns College vs. 31.7% at Shepherd University.

Five Towns College vs. Shepherd University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Five Towns College and Shepherd University? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Shepherd University's six-year graduation rate (46%) is higher than Five Towns College's (31%).
• Graduates from Shepherd University earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than Five Towns College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,500 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Shepherd University graduates have a $4,777 lower median loan debt than Five Towns College graduates ($22,223 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Shepherd University graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Five Towns College graduates ($229 vs. $279).
• More Shepherd University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Five Towns College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 50%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.