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NSU Morgan State Bowie State University Ferris State University RU North Carolina Central University Old Dominion Delaware State University Hampton University West Virginia University Tech Frostburg State University Millersville University of Pennsylvania| Virginia State University | Shepherd University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
VSU | Shepherd University | ||
| Location | Petersburg, VA | Shepherdstown, WV | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Town Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 5,190 | 3,318 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #930 | #884 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | vsu.edu | shepherd.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
VSU | Shepherd University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,540 | $6,288 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,038 | $15,774 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,966 | $11,308 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,184 | $12,651 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,300 | $8,183 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 92% | 95% |
Admission |
VSU | Shepherd University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,577 | 1,793 | ||
| Admitted | 9,424 | 1,715 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 89.1% | 95.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.4% | 33% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 2.85 | 3.6 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 14/20 | 20/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 800/1050 | 900/1140 | ||
| 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 | May 1, 2026 |
Academics |
VSU | Shepherd University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
VSU | Shepherd University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 40% | 46% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $36,700 | $41,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 28% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $29,500 | $22,223 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $305 | $229 |
Diversity |
VSU | Shepherd University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 4% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | Yes | No | ||
| % White | 3% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 87% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 2% | ||
| % International | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 1% |
Students |
VSU | Shepherd University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 72% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 33% | 27% | ||
Campus |
VSU | Shepherd University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Virginia State University is larger than than Shepherd University based on total student enrollment (5,190 students vs. 3,318 students)
VSU vs. Shepherd University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, VSU or Shepherd University?
- Shepherd University is 13.5% more expensive to attend than VSU for in-state tuition ($6,288.00 vs. $5,540.00)
- Out of state tuition is 8% higher at VSU than Shepherd University ($17,038.00 vs. $15,774.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shepherd University than VSU ($12,651 vs. $16,184)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shepherd University are 14.7% lower than costs at Virginia State University ($11,308 vs. $12,966)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Shepherd University than Virginia State University (95% vs. 92%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia State University students is 50.3% larger than aid received Shepherd University ($12,300 vs. $8,183)
VSU vs. Shepherd University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, VSU or Shepherd University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Shepherd University or VSU .
- The average SAT score at Shepherd University (995) is 138 points higher than at VSU (857)
- Incoming Shepherd University students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at VSU (18)
- Accepted freshman Shepherd University students have a 0.75 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at VSU (2.85)
- Shepherd University has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than VSU (89.1%)
VSU vs. Shepherd University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, VSU 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 VSU.
- The graduation rate at Shepherd University is higher than Virginia State University (46% vs. 40%)
- Graduates from Shepherd University earn on average $4,800 more per year than VSU graduates after ten years. ($41,500 vs. $36,700)
- Shepherd University students graduate with a $7,277 lower median federal student loan debt than VSU graduates. ($22,223 vs. $29,500)
- Shepherd University graduates are paying $76 less per month on federal student loans than VSU graduates. ($229 vs. $305)
- More Shepherd University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 28%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/