Ship vs. SU

Comparable Facts

Compare Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in Shippensburg, PA with Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is larger than SU based on total student enrollment (5,161 students vs. 4,454 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is located in Shippensburg, PA (Distant Town setting); Shenandoah University is in Winchester, VA (Small City setting).
• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Shenandoah University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 18:1; Shenandoah University 12:1.

Ship vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ship or SU? 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 Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania than SU ($23,772 vs. $27,181).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shenandoah University are 6.4% lower than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania ($12,490 vs. $13,340).
• Shenandoah University is 169.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ship (about $23,230 more per year; $36,950.00 vs. $13,720.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 131.3% higher at SU than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (about $20,976 more per year; $36,950.00 vs. $15,974.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shenandoah University than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (100% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 266.3% larger than aid received by Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania students ($24,747 vs. $6,756).

Ship vs. SU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Ship or SU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SU and Ship.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Shenandoah University (1120) is 20 points higher than at Ship (1100).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 990/1210; Shenandoah University 1010/1230.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresShenandoah University 19/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ship - Test optional; SU - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: SU Aug 1, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman SU students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Ship (3.23).
• Ship has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than SU (77%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at Ship vs. 16.7% at SU.

Ship vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ship and SU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Shenandoah University's (45%).
• Graduates from Shenandoah University earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than Ship graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 vs. $47,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Shenandoah University and Ship graduates have the same median loan debt ($25,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Shenandoah University and Ship graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($258 vs. $258).
• More Ship graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SU students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 60%)

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.