University of West Georgia vs. Shepherd University

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

University of West Georgia Shepherd University
Location Carrollton, GA Shepherdstown, WV
Setting Distant Town Town Fringe
Enrollment 12,728 3,318
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #880 #884
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website westga.edu shepherd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of West Georgia Shepherd University
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $6,288
Tuition (Out of State) $15,424 $15,774
Room & Board $11,642 $11,308
Avg Net Price $14,962 $12,651
Avg Grant Aid $8,088 $8,183
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 95%

Admission

University of West Georgia Shepherd University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,399 1,793
Admitted 4,147 1,715
Acceptance Rate 49.4% 95.6%
Enrolled % 32.8% 33%
Avg High School GPA 3.31 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/23 20/24
SAT Range 930/1130 900/1140
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 1, 2026

Academics

University of West Georgia Shepherd University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

Outcomes

University of West Georgia Shepherd University
Graduation Rate 39% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,400 $41,500
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $22,223
Median Loan Payment $258 $229

Diversity

University of West Georgia Shepherd University
% Men 7% 3%
% Women 27% 9%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 50% 82%
% Black 39% 10%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

University of West Georgia Shepherd University
% In-State 93% 72%
% Out-of-State 5% 27%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of West Georgia is larger than than Shepherd University based on total student enrollment (12,728 students vs. 3,318 students)

University of West Georgia vs. Shepherd University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of West Georgia or Shepherd University?

  • Shepherd University is 43.9% more expensive to attend than University of West Georgia for in-state tuition ($6,288.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.3% higher at Shepherd University than University of West Georgia ($15,774.00 vs. $15,424.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shepherd University than University of West Georgia ($12,651 vs. $14,962)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shepherd University are 3% lower than costs at University of West Georgia ($11,308 vs. $11,642)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shepherd University than University of West Georgia (95% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shepherd University students is 1.2% larger than aid received University of West Georgia ($8,183 vs. $8,088)

University of West Georgia vs. Shepherd University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Shepherd University (995) is 50 points higher than at University of West Georgia (945)
  • Incoming Shepherd University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at University of West Georgia (20)
  • Accepted freshman Shepherd University students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at University of West Georgia (3.31)
  • Shepherd University has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than University of West Georgia (49.4%)

University of West Georgia vs. Shepherd University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of West Georgia 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 University of West Georgia.

  • The graduation rate at Shepherd University is higher than University of West Georgia (46% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Shepherd University earn on average $1,100 more per year than University of West Georgia graduates after ten years. ($41,500 vs. $40,400)
  • Shepherd University students graduate with a $2,777 lower median federal student loan debt than University of West Georgia graduates. ($22,223 vs. $25,000)
  • Shepherd University graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than University of West Georgia graduates. ($229 vs. $258)
  • More Shepherd University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of West Georgia students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 45%)

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