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 2,165 3,318
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #510 #884
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) $37,140 $6,288
Tuition (Out of State) $37,140 $15,774
Room & Board $14,142 $11,308
Avg Net Price $26,733 $12,651
Avg Grant Aid $25,995 $8,183
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 95%

Admission

Gwynedd Mercy College Shepherd University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,111 1,793
Admitted 1,040 1,715
Acceptance Rate 93.6% 95.6%
Enrolled % 17.7% 33%
Avg High School GPA 3.34 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/24
SAT Range 1048/1180 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 20, 2026

Academics

Gwynedd Mercy College Shepherd University
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 16:1
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 7% 3%
% Women 25% 9%
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% 72%
% Out-of-State 20% 27%

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 (3,318 students vs. 2,165 students)

Gwynedd Mercy College vs. Shepherd University Cost Comparison

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

  • Gwynedd Mercy College is 490.6% more expensive to attend than Shepherd University for in-state tuition ($37,140.00 vs. $6,288.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 135.5% higher at Gwynedd Mercy College than Shepherd University ($37,140.00 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 ($12,651 vs. $26,733)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shepherd University are 25.1% lower than costs at Gwynedd Mercy College ($11,308 vs. $14,142)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Gwynedd Mercy College than Shepherd University (100% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gwynedd Mercy College students is 217.7% larger than aid received Shepherd University ($25,995 vs. $8,183)

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 (95.6%) than Gwynedd Mercy College (93.6%)

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/