Fitchburg State vs. Shepherd University

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

Fitchburg State Shepherd University
Location Fitchburg, MA Shepherdstown, WV
Setting Midsize Suburban Town Fringe
Enrollment 6,554 3,235
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #549 #866
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fitchburgstate.edu shepherd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fitchburg State Shepherd University
Tuition (In State) $970 $6,288
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $15,774
Room & Board $13,516 $10,987
Avg Net Price $15,535 $9,827
Avg Grant Aid $7,093 $7,328
% Receiving Grant Aid 76% 93%

Admission

Fitchburg State Shepherd University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,084 1,690
Admitted 2,654 1,620
Acceptance Rate 86.1% 95.9%
Enrolled % 18.3% 34.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.29 3.6
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Average Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/28 19/24
SAT Range 1020/1220 930/1170
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

Academics

Fitchburg State Shepherd University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • General Studies (16%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Fitchburg State Shepherd University
Graduation Rate 47% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,000 $41,500
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,685 $22,223
Median Loan Payment $234 $229

Diversity

Fitchburg State Shepherd University
% Men 38% 37%
% Women 62% 63%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 82%
% Black 9% 10%
% Hispanic 11% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Fitchburg State Shepherd University
% In-State 90% 64%
% Out-of-State 10% 35%

Campus

Fitchburg State 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

  • Fitchburg State University is larger than than Shepherd University based on total student enrollment (6,554 students vs. 3,235 students)

Fitchburg State vs. Shepherd University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fitchburg State or Shepherd University?

  • Shepherd University is 548.2% more expensive to attend than Fitchburg State for in-state tuition ($6,288.00 vs. $970.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 123.7% higher at Shepherd University than Fitchburg State University ($15,774.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shepherd University than Fitchburg State ($9,827 vs. $15,535)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shepherd University are 23% lower than costs at Fitchburg State University ($10,987 vs. $13,516)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shepherd University than Fitchburg State University (93% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shepherd University students is 3.3% larger than aid received Fitchburg State University ($7,328 vs. $7,093)

Fitchburg State vs. Shepherd University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Shepherd University (995) is 2 points higher than at Fitchburg State (993)
  • Incoming Shepherd University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Fitchburg State (21)
  • Accepted freshman Shepherd University students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Fitchburg State (3.29)
  • Shepherd University has a higher acceptance rate (95.9%) than Fitchburg State (86.1%)

Fitchburg State vs. Shepherd University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fitchburg State 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 Fitchburg State.

  • The graduation rate at Fitchburg State is higher than Shepherd University (47% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from Fitchburg State University earn on average $2,500 more per year than Shepherd University graduates after ten years. ($44,000 vs. $41,500)
  • Shepherd University students graduate with a $462 lower median federal student loan debt than Fitchburg State graduates. ($22,223 vs. $22,685)
  • Shepherd University graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Fitchburg State graduates. ($229 vs. $234)
  • More Fitchburg State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shepherd University students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 53%)

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