CSU vs. Shepherd University

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

 CSU Shepherd University
Location Chico, CA Shepherdstown, WV
Setting Small City Town Fringe
Enrollment 14,183 3,235
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #659 #866
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csuchico.edu shepherd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 CSU Shepherd University
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $6,288
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $15,774
Room & Board $15,212 $10,987
Avg Net Price $15,517 $9,827
Avg Grant Aid $9,162 $7,328
% Receiving Grant Aid 62% 93%

Admission

 CSU Shepherd University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 21,417 1,690
Admitted 20,347 1,620
Acceptance Rate 95% 95.9%
Enrolled % 9.9% 34.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.37 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 19/24
SAT Range 970/1170 930/1170
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Dec 15, 2023

Academics

 CSU Shepherd University
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

Outcomes

 CSU Shepherd University
Graduation Rate 59% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $52,400 $41,500
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,000 $22,223
Median Loan Payment $175 $229

Diversity

 CSU Shepherd University
% Men 45% 37%
% Women 55% 63%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 46% 82%
% Black 2% 10%
% Hispanic 29% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 7% 1%

Students

 CSU Shepherd University
% In-State 97% 64%
% Out-of-State 2% 35%

Campus

 CSU 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

  • California State University Chico is larger than than Shepherd University based on total student enrollment (14,183 students vs. 3,235 students)

CSU vs. Shepherd University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or Shepherd University?

  • Shepherd University is 9.5% more expensive to attend than CSU for in-state tuition ($6,288.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.7% higher at CSU than Shepherd University ($17,622.00 vs. $15,774.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shepherd University than CSU ($9,827 vs. $15,517)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shepherd University are 38.5% lower than costs at California State University Chico ($10,987 vs. $15,212)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shepherd University than California State University Chico (93% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Chico students is 25% larger than aid received Shepherd University ($9,162 vs. $7,328)

CSU vs. Shepherd University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at California State University Chico (1003) is 8 points higher than at Shepherd University (995)
  • Incoming CSU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at Shepherd University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Shepherd University students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at CSU (3.37)
  • Shepherd University has a higher acceptance rate (95.9%) than CSU (95%)

CSU vs. Shepherd University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CSU 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 CSU.

  • The graduation rate at CSU is higher than Shepherd University (59% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from California State University Chico earn on average $10,900 more per year than Shepherd University graduates after ten years. ($52,400 vs. $41,500)
  • California State University Chico students graduate with a $5,223 lower median federal student loan debt than Shepherd University graduates. ($17,000 vs. $22,223)
  • CSU graduates are paying $54 less per month on federal student loans than Shepherd University graduates. ($175 vs. $229)
  • More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shepherd University students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 53%)

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