Shepherd University vs. UC Merced

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

Shepherd University UC Merced
Location Shepherdstown, WV Merced, CA
Setting Town Fringe Rural Fringe
Enrollment 3,235 9,103
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #866 #605
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website shepherd.edu ucmerced.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Shepherd University UC Merced
Tuition (In State) $6,288 $11,564
Tuition (Out of State) $15,774 $41,636
Room & Board $10,987 $19,340
Avg Net Price $9,827 $13,549
Avg Grant Aid $7,328 $25,868
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 83%

Admission

Shepherd University UC Merced
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,690 29,920
Admitted 1,620 26,766
Acceptance Rate 95.9% 89.5%
Enrolled % 34.1% 8.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.55
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/24 19/24
SAT Range 930/1170 960/1140
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2023

Academics

Shepherd University UC Merced
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
  • Psychology (22%)
  • Biology (21%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Business (12%)

Outcomes

Shepherd University UC Merced
Graduation Rate 46% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,500 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,223 $19,899
Median Loan Payment $229 $205

Diversity

Shepherd University UC Merced
% Men 37% 51%
% Women 63% 49%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 82% 13%
% Black 10% 5%
% Hispanic 3% 48%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 0% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Shepherd University UC Merced
% In-State 64% 99%
% Out-of-State 35% 0%

Campus

Shepherd University UC Merced
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of California Merced is larger than than Shepherd University based on total student enrollment (9,103 students vs. 3,235 students)

Shepherd University vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Shepherd University or UC Merced?

  • University of California Merced is 83.9% more expensive to attend than Shepherd University for in-state tuition ($11,564.00 vs. $6,288.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 164% higher at UC Merced than Shepherd University ($41,636.00 vs. $15,774.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shepherd University than UC Merced ($9,827 vs. $13,549)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shepherd University are 76% lower than costs at University of California Merced ($10,987 vs. $19,340)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shepherd University than University of California Merced (93% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 253% larger than aid received Shepherd University ($25,868 vs. $7,328)

Shepherd University vs. UC Merced Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of California Merced (1025) is 30 points higher than at Shepherd University (995)
  • Incoming UC Merced students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Shepherd University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Shepherd University students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at UC Merced (3.55)
  • Shepherd University has a higher acceptance rate (95.9%) than UC Merced (89.5%)

Shepherd University vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Shepherd University or UC Merced? 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 UC Merced and Shepherd University.

  • The graduation rate at UC Merced is higher than Shepherd University (58% vs. 46%)
  • University of California Merced students graduate with a $2,324 lower median federal student loan debt than Shepherd University graduates. ($19,899 vs. $22,223)
  • UC Merced graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than Shepherd University graduates. ($205 vs. $229)
  • More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shepherd University students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 53%)

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