Gwynedd Mercy College vs. Shepherd University

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

Gwynedd Mercy College Shepherd University
Location Gwynedd Valley, PA Shepherdstown, WV
Setting Large Suburban Town Fringe
Enrollment 2,091 3,235
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #315 #866
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gmc.edu shepherd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Gwynedd Mercy College Shepherd University
Tuition (In State) $36,052 $6,288
Tuition (Out of State) $36,052 $15,774
Room & Board $13,056 $10,987
Avg Net Price $28,122 $9,827
Avg Grant Aid $24,512 $7,328
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 93%

Admission

Gwynedd Mercy College Shepherd University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,063 1,690
Admitted 621 1,620
Acceptance Rate 58.4% 95.9%
Enrolled % 24.5% 34.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.34 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/24
SAT Range 1015/1235 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 20, 2025

Academics

Gwynedd Mercy College Shepherd University
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (46%)
  • Business (33%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Biology (2%)
  • Psychology (2%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Gwynedd Mercy College Shepherd University
Graduation Rate 52% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,600 $41,500
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $22,223
Median Loan Payment $258 $229

Diversity

Gwynedd Mercy College Shepherd University
% Men 27% 37%
% Women 73% 63%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 57% 82%
% Black 23% 10%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 10% 1%

Students

Gwynedd Mercy College Shepherd University
% In-State 80% 64%
% Out-of-State 20% 35%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Shepherd University is larger than than Gwynedd Mercy College based on total student enrollment (3,235 students vs. 2,091 students)

Gwynedd Mercy College vs. Shepherd University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gwynedd Mercy College or Shepherd University?

  • Gwynedd Mercy College is 473.3% more expensive to attend than Shepherd University for in-state tuition ($36,052.00 vs. $6,288.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 128.6% higher at Gwynedd Mercy College than Shepherd University ($36,052.00 vs. $15,774.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shepherd University than Gwynedd Mercy College ($9,827 vs. $28,122)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shepherd University are 18.8% lower than costs at Gwynedd Mercy College ($10,987 vs. $13,056)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Gwynedd Mercy College than Shepherd University (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gwynedd Mercy College students is 234.5% larger than aid received Shepherd University ($24,512 vs. $7,328)

Gwynedd Mercy College vs. Shepherd University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Shepherd University (995) is 71 points higher than at Gwynedd Mercy College (924)
  • Incoming Shepherd University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Gwynedd Mercy College (20)
  • Accepted freshman Shepherd University students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Gwynedd Mercy College (3.34)
  • Shepherd University has a higher acceptance rate (95.9%) than Gwynedd Mercy College (58.4%)

Gwynedd Mercy College vs. Shepherd University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Gwynedd Mercy 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 Gwynedd Mercy College.

  • The graduation rate at Gwynedd Mercy College is higher than Shepherd University (52% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from Gwynedd Mercy College earn on average $15,100 more per year than Shepherd University graduates after ten years. ($56,600 vs. $41,500)
  • Shepherd University students graduate with a $2,777 lower median federal student loan debt than Gwynedd Mercy College graduates. ($22,223 vs. $25,000)
  • Shepherd University graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Gwynedd Mercy College graduates. ($229 vs. $258)
  • More Gwynedd Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shepherd University students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 53%)

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