USC Aiken vs. Shepherd University

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

USC Aiken Shepherd University
Location Aiken, SC Shepherdstown, WV
Setting Rural Fringe Town Fringe
Enrollment 3,840 3,235
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #888 #866
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website usca.edu shepherd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

USC Aiken Shepherd University
Tuition (In State) $10,398 $6,288
Tuition (Out of State) $20,856 $15,774
Room & Board $8,376 $10,987
Avg Net Price $11,872 $9,827
Avg Grant Aid $9,891 $7,328
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 93%

Admission

USC Aiken Shepherd University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,453 1,690
Admitted 1,855 1,620
Acceptance Rate 75.6% 95.9%
Enrolled % 29.8% 34.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.19 3.6
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 19/24
SAT Range 950/1180 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 1, 2025

Academics

USC Aiken Shepherd University
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

Outcomes

USC Aiken Shepherd University
Graduation Rate 41% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,600 $41,500
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $22,223
Median Loan Payment $268 $229

Diversity

USC Aiken Shepherd University
% Men 36% 37%
% Women 64% 63%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 58% 82%
% Black 27% 10%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 4% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

USC Aiken Shepherd University
% In-State 87% 64%
% Out-of-State 11% 35%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Carolina Aiken is larger than than Shepherd University based on total student enrollment (3,840 students vs. 3,235 students)

USC Aiken vs. Shepherd University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USC Aiken or Shepherd University?

  • University of South Carolina Aiken is 65.4% more expensive to attend than Shepherd University for in-state tuition ($10,398.00 vs. $6,288.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 32.2% higher at USC Aiken than Shepherd University ($20,856.00 vs. $15,774.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shepherd University than USC Aiken ($9,827 vs. $11,872)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Aiken are 31.2% lower than costs at Shepherd University ($8,376 vs. $10,987)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Aiken than Shepherd University (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Carolina Aiken students is 35% larger than aid received Shepherd University ($9,891 vs. $7,328)

USC Aiken vs. Shepherd University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Shepherd University (995) is 19 points higher than at USC Aiken (976)
  • Incoming Shepherd University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at USC Aiken (21)
  • Accepted freshman Shepherd University students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at USC Aiken (3.19)
  • Shepherd University has a higher acceptance rate (95.9%) than USC Aiken (75.6%)

USC Aiken vs. Shepherd University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, USC Aiken 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 USC Aiken.

  • The graduation rate at Shepherd University is higher than University of South Carolina Aiken (46% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Shepherd University earn on average $1,900 more per year than USC Aiken graduates after ten years. ($41,500 vs. $39,600)
  • Shepherd University students graduate with a $3,777 lower median federal student loan debt than USC Aiken graduates. ($22,223 vs. $26,000)
  • Shepherd University graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than USC Aiken graduates. ($229 vs. $268)
  • More USC Aiken graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shepherd University students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 53%)

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