Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. Shepherd University

Comparable Facts

Compare Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster, PA with Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Shepherd University is larger than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (3,339 students vs. 414 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is located in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting); Shepherd University is in Shepherdstown, WV (Town Fringe setting).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Shepherd University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1; Shepherd University 17:1.

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. Shepherd University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($11,744 vs. $28,826).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shepherd University are 25% lower than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($12,916 vs. $17,230).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is 255% more expensive for in-state tuition than Shepherd University (about $23,094 more per year; $32,150.00 vs. $9,056.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 68.5% higher at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Shepherd University (about $13,068 more per year; $32,150.00 vs. $19,082.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Shepherd University (100% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students is 81.9% larger than aid received by Shepherd University students ($14,989 vs. $8,241).

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. Shepherd University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

• 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: Pennsylvania College of Art and Design - Test-free; Shepherd University - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Shepherd University students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (3.13).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than Shepherd University (96.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. 31.7% at Shepherd University.

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. Shepherd University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 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).

• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Shepherd University's (46%).
• Graduates from Shepherd University earn a median of about $12,800 more per year than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,500 vs. $28,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Shepherd University graduates have a $4,777 lower median loan debt than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($22,223 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Shepherd University graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($229 vs. $279).
• More Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shepherd University students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 53%)

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.