Shepherd University
Shepherd University at a Glance
Reviewed by James A. Barham, PhD, Vice President and Academic Editor. Influence ranks come from our InfluenceRanking™ methodology; other figures come from federal data, with the year shown under each section. Report an error
Shepherd University Featured Rankings
About Shepherd University
According to Wikipedia, Shepherd University is a public liberal arts university in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the university enrolled 3,274 students in fall 2023. History Shepherd University began when the county seat of Jefferson County, West Virginia, was moved from its temporary location in Shepherdstown back to Charles Town in July 1871. The people of Shepherdstown and vicinity decided to use the vacated courthouse for educational purposes. An article of incorporation for a school to be known as Shepherd College, designed to instruct students “in languages, arts and sciences,” was drawn up and signed by C. W. Andrews, Alexander R. Boteler, C. T. Butler, G. M. Beltzhoover, David Billmyer, Samuel Knott, and Henry Shepherd. This body of incorporators gave itself power to elect instructors, pay salaries, and prescribe courses of study. Professor Joseph McMurran was appointed first principal of the institution, which opened with 42 students in September 1871, under the authority of the board of trustees.
Shepherd University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information
| Annual Applications | Acceptance | Retention Rate | Graduation Rate | Median SAT Score | Median ACT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,793 | 97% | 71% | 50% | 1009 | 21 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); acceptance rate for fall 2024; test scores for fall 2024; applications and enrollment for fall 2023; retention for students who started in fall 2023; graduation rate within six years for students who started in 2019.
How Much Does Shepherd University Cost To Attend?
| Tuition and fees (in-state) |
|---|
| $9,404 |
| Income | Average Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0 - 30K | $7,948 |
| 30K - 48K | $11,032 |
| 48K - 75K | $6,162 |
| 75K - 110K | $4,894 |
| 110K+ | $10,882 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); tuition and fees for 2025–26; net price for 2024–25, for first-time, full-time students receiving financial aid.
How Much Do Shepherd University Graduates Make?
Ten years after starting college, former Shepherd University students who received federal financial aid earn a median of $54,833 a year, and 91% of those not still in school are working.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; students who started college in 2011–12 or 2012–13, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars.
Shepherd University's Demographics
Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.
| Student Body | Under-Grads | Graduates |
|---|---|---|
| 3,834 | 3,158 | 676 |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.
Where is Shepherd University?
Shepherd University is located at 301 North King St, Shepherdstown, WV 25443.
How Safe is Shepherd University?
Shepherd University reported 0.6 violent and property offenses on campus per 1,000 students in 2024, fewer than most midsize partly residential campuses. Its figures can also be looked up in the U.S. Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Security database.
Relative to its enrollment, Shepherd University has a violent crime rate of 0.06% and a property crime rate of less than 0.01%. Shepherdstown has a violent crime rate of 0.06% and a property (including theft) crime rate of 0.39%. Sources: campus: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data, on-campus offenses in 2024 (violent: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property: burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson, which excludes ordinary theft); city: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported to the city police in 2024.
What Is Shepherd University Known For?
Shepherd University is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:
- Literature
- History
- Computer Science
- Nursing
- Political Science
- Communications
- Engineering
- Education
- Chemistry
- Criminal Justice
- Economics
- Medical
- Mathematics
- Biology
- Psychology
Shepherd University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered
Each rank compares how much Shepherd University's faculty and alumni have shaped a field with other schools, using Wikipedia, Wikidata and scholarly citation databases such as Crossref and Semantic Scholar. World and U.S. ranks reflect modern influence; the historical rank counts influence across all time. How we rank influence
Shepherd University ranks #714 in the U.S. and #2145 worldwide for influence in Literature.
literature DegreesShepherd University ranks #771 in the U.S. and #2357 worldwide for influence in History.
history DegreesShepherd University ranks #853 in the U.S. and #3794 worldwide for influence in Computer Science.
computer-science DegreesShepherd University ranks #870 in the U.S. and #2257 worldwide for influence in Nursing.
nursing DegreesShepherd University ranks #981 in the U.S. and #4260 worldwide for influence in Political Science.
political-science DegreesShepherd University ranks #1058 in the U.S. and #4043 worldwide for influence in Communications.
communications DegreesShepherd University ranks #1778 in the U.S. and #8614 worldwide for influence in Engineering.
engineering DegreesShepherd University ranks #1901 in the U.S. and #7212 worldwide for influence in Education.
education DegreesShepherd University ranks #1983 in the U.S. and #7049 worldwide for influence in Chemistry.
chemistry DegreesShepherd University ranks #2088 in the U.S. and #4168 worldwide for influence in Criminal Justice.
criminal-justice DegreesShepherd University ranks #2177 in the U.S. and #8959 worldwide for influence in Economics.
economics DegreesShepherd University ranks #2302 in the U.S. and #8021 worldwide for influence in Medical.
medicine DegreesShepherd University ranks #2529 in the U.S. and #8874 worldwide for influence in Mathematics.
math DegreesShepherd University ranks #2590 in the U.S. and #10182 worldwide for influence in Biology.
biology DegreesShepherd University ranks #2895 in the U.S. and #7682 worldwide for influence in Psychology.
psychology Degrees