Marshall University vs. Shepherd University

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

Marshall University Shepherd University
Location Huntington, WV Shepherdstown, WV
Setting Small City Town Fringe
Enrollment 10,691 3,235
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #813 #866
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website marshall.edu shepherd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Marshall University Shepherd University
Tuition (In State) $7,190 $6,288
Tuition (Out of State) $18,244 $15,774
Room & Board $11,840 $10,987
Avg Net Price $8,756 $9,827
Avg Grant Aid $11,221 $7,328
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 93%

Admission

Marshall University Shepherd University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,356 1,690
Admitted 6,158 1,620
Acceptance Rate 96.9% 95.9%
Enrolled % 25.2% 34.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.68 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 19/24
SAT Range 930/1150 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 10, 2025

Academics

Marshall University Shepherd University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Marshall University Shepherd University
Graduation Rate 44% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,200 $41,500
Making Student Loan Payments 43% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,134 $22,223
Median Loan Payment $239 $229

Diversity

Marshall University Shepherd University
% Men 40% 37%
% Women 60% 63%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 84% 82%
% Black 7% 10%
% Hispanic 2% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Marshall University Shepherd University
% In-State 79% 64%
% Out-of-State 20% 35%

Campus

Marshall 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

  • Marshall University is larger than than Shepherd University based on total student enrollment (10,691 students vs. 3,235 students)

Marshall University vs. Shepherd University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Marshall University or Shepherd University?

  • Marshall University is 14.3% more expensive to attend than Shepherd University for in-state tuition ($7,190.00 vs. $6,288.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.7% higher at Marshall University than Shepherd University ($18,244.00 vs. $15,774.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Marshall University than Shepherd University ($8,756 vs. $9,827)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shepherd University are 7.8% lower than costs at Marshall University ($10,987 vs. $11,840)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Marshall University than Shepherd University (96% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Marshall University students is 53.1% larger than aid received Shepherd University ($11,221 vs. $7,328)

Marshall University vs. Shepherd University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Marshall University (1028) is 33 points higher than at Shepherd University (995)
  • Incoming Marshall University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Shepherd University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Marshall University students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Shepherd University (3.6)
  • Marshall University has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Shepherd University (95.9%)

Marshall University vs. Shepherd University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Marshall 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 Marshall University.

  • The graduation rate at Shepherd University is higher than Marshall University (46% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from Shepherd University earn on average $1,300 more per year than Marshall University graduates after ten years. ($41,500 vs. $40,200)
  • Shepherd University students graduate with a $911 lower median federal student loan debt than Marshall University graduates. ($22,223 vs. $23,134)
  • Shepherd University graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Marshall University graduates. ($229 vs. $239)
  • More Shepherd University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Marshall University students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 43%)

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