Shepherd University vs Potomac State College of West Virginia University

Shepherd University and Potomac State College of West Virginia University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning in West Virginia, offer unique educational experiences tailored to diverse student aspirations. Shepherd University, nestled in the historic town of Shepherdstown, boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a broader range of students into its academic fold. Potomac State College, situated in the scenic Eastern Panhandle, distinguishes itself with a strong focus on career-oriented programs, preparing students for immediate entry into the workforce. While Shepherd University's student body reflects a more diverse demographic, Potomac State College fosters a close-knit community, nurturing personal growth and academic success. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details, including popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that will guide your decision in choosing the institution that best aligns with your academic goals and personal preferences.

	Potomac State College of West Virginia University	Shepherd University
Overview
Location	Keyser, West Virginia	Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Campus setting	Town: Distant	Town: Fringe
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Public	Public
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	53.0%	66.0%
Common app member	No	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	Open Admission	96.4%
Application fees		Undergraduate: $45 Graduate: $40
SAT range	N/A	960 - 1180
ACT range	N/A	19 - 26
Students submitting SAT score		47.0%
Students submitting ACT score		17.0%
Total number of applicants		1,338
Total number of admissions given out		1,290
Admitted students who chose to enroll		419
Yield rate		32.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	Not required	N/A
High school GPA	N/A	Required
Recommendation letters	N/A	Not required
High school transcript	N/A	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	N/A	Not required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	In state: $16,888 Out of state: $24,040	In state: $23,132 Out of state: $33,572
Average net price	$8,063	$10,360
Tuition	In state: $4,608 Out of state: $11,760	In state: $5,790 Out of state: $15,276
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $4,388 Meal plan: $4,666	Room/dormitory: $5,798 Meal plan: $5,050
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	88.0% Average amount $6,370	87.0% Average amount $7,767
Students receiving federal student loan	41.0% Average amount $5,337	53.0% Average amount $5,075
Students taking out private loans	2.0% Average amount $9,905	7.0% Average amount $12,449

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	1,174 Men 47.2% Women 52.8%	2,450 Men 39.6% Women 60.4%
Graduate students	N/A	565 Men 22.1% Women 77.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Very Low	Low
Out-of-state students	25.9%	27.6%
International students	1.1%	1.4%
Campus local/setting	Town: Distant	Town: Fringe
Dormitory capacity	650	1,052
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	West Virginia Maryland Pennsylvania Virginia Ohio	West Virginia Maryland Virginia Pennsylvania District of Columbia

Academics
Popular study areas	Liberal Arts Business Education Agriculture Computer and Information Science	Health Professions Liberal Arts Education Social Sciences Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio	17:1	14:1
Institutional accreditation	Higher Learning Commission	Higher Learning Commission

Outcome
Graduation rate	24.3%	44.1%
Dropout rate	39.8%	43.3%
Transferred out	36.0%	10.9%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $61,227 Year 2: $61,454 Year 3: $63,170 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $45,204 Year 2: $40,140 Year 3: $52,016 Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $29,769 Year 2: N/A Year 3: $44,510 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $32,668 Year 2: $30,251 Year 3: $37,025 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees) Year 1: $20,472 Year 2: $15,552 Year 3: N/A	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $61,704 Year 2: $61,020 Year 3: $65,982 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $49,620 Year 2: $45,852 Year 3: $53,735 Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $30,461 Year 2: $38,289 Year 3: $48,671 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $40,026 Year 2: $32,391 Year 3: $43,769 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $39,615 Year 2: $38,670 Year 3: $42,186 Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $35,736 Year 2: $38,289 Year 3: $40,911 Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $34,185 Year 2: $29,685 Year 3: $39,264 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,498 Year 2: $31,763 Year 3: $38,847 Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $25,225 Year 2: $35,416 Year 3: $38,312 Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $31,000 Year 2: $23,340 Year 3: $35,390

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Shepherd University vs Potomac State College of West Virginia University

Potomac State College of West Virginia University

Shepherd University

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Students and Campus

Academics

Outcome

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