Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, West Virginia · Public · 2,344 undergraduates · shepherd.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
97%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
878 to 1140
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$31,530Est.Estimate
$42,540 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at Shepherd University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
97% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$42,540
a year in 2027-28, from a $42,540 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1010
Send your score
About 40% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 920, and yours is above it.
Source: College Navigator (federal data on fall 2024 freshmen)
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
Source: First-Time Freshmen | Shepherd University · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov15Early Action · November 15, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Jun1Other deadline · June 1, 2027
- Aug1Regular Decision · August 1, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
97%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 878 to 1140
Reading and Writing 468 to 600
Math 410 to 540
ACT composite 19 to 24
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$31,530
a year, in state
$42,540
a year, out of state (tuition $21,050)
- Tuition (in state)$10,040
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$7,948
- $30,001 to $48,000$11,032
- $48,001 to $75,000$6,162
- $75,001 to $110,000$4,894
- Over $110,000$10,882
Financial aidEstimate
80%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
96%
of freshmen receive grants
$8,241
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
West Virginia programs for residents
Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars Program
$10,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.25+ GPA, Elementary or special education track; HS senior or recent grad with no prior degree-seeking enrollment; enroll in approved WV teacher-prep program; 5-year WV public school teaching service obligation, from West Virginia
- 3.25+ GPA, Math or science teaching track; HS senior or recent grad with no prior degree-seeking enrollment; enroll in approved WV teacher-prep program; 5-year WV public school teaching service obligation, from West Virginia
PROMISE Scholarship
$5,500 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.00+ GPA, 1080+ SAT or 21+ ACT, Standard (single tier); Complete HS graduation requirements at a WV public or private HS; Promise application + FAFSA by March 1, 2027; full-time first-year; apply within 2 years of HS graduation; U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
34 of 34
Earn credit with a score of 3
30 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,000Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | ART 140 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 3 | ART 170 |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | ART 103 |
| Art History | 4 | 3 | ART 203 or ART 103 |
| Biology | 3 | 8 | BIOL 101 and BIOL 102 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | MATH 207 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | MATH 207 and 208 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 8 | CHEM 207/L & 209/L |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | PSCI 304 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 3 | CIS 104 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | CIS 104 |
| Drawing | 4 | 3 | ART 115 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENGL 101 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENGL 102 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 8 | ENVS 201 and ENVS 202 |
| European History | 3 | 6 | HIST 102 & 103 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | FREN 101 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | FREN 101 & 102 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | GERM 101 |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | GERM 101 & 102 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | GEOG 105 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 205 and 206 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 205 and 206 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 3 | MUSC 111 |
| Music Theory | 4 | 3 | MUSC 103 |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 201/L |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 202/L |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | PHYS 222, 222L |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | PHYS 221, 221L |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | 3 | MATH 108 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSYC 101 |
| Research | 3 | 3 | |
| Seminar | 3 | 3 | |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | SPAN 101 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | SPAN 101 & 102 |
| Statistics | 4 | 3 | MATH 314 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | PSCI 101 |
| United States History | 3 | 6 | HIST 201 & 202 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 6 | HIST 101 & 102 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
50%
Come back for a second year
71%
Typical earnings
$54,833
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Shepherd University$83,015
- All colleges$90,887
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 16 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Shepherd University. The Shepherd University logo is a trademark of the college.