- Acceptance rate: 97% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 468–600 reading and writing, 410–540 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 19–24 composite
- Average net price: $12,651 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Shepherd University reported: an acceptance rate of 97% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 19–24.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Shepherd University reviews each application.
Shepherd University GPA requirements
Shepherd University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Shepherd University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Shepherd University acceptance rate
Shepherd University admitted 1,593 of 1,646 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 97%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Shepherd University is a public 4-year university in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, with 3,032 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Shepherd University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 468 | 540 | 600 |
| SAT Math | 410 | 485 | 540 |
| ACT Composite | 19 | 21 | 24 |
| ACT English | 19 | 22 | 24 |
| ACT Math | 16 | 18 | 22 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1034 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Shepherd University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Considered if submitted |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Considered if submitted |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Not considered |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
Shepherd University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It also awards credit for life experience, such as work or military service.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $12,651 a year at Shepherd University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
How selective is Shepherd University?
Not very selective: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Shepherd University admitted 97% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What are Shepherd University's SAT and ACT score ranges?
The middle 50% of Shepherd University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 468–600 in reading and writing and 410–540 in math; ACT composite 19–24, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
Do you need SAT or ACT scores to apply to Shepherd University?
No. Shepherd University is test optional: it considers SAT or ACT scores if you send them, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 54% sent SAT scores and 8% sent ACT scores.
How much does GPA matter at Shepherd University?
A lot: Shepherd University requires high school GPA. It considers recommendations, essay or personal statement, test scores and demonstration of competencies if you send them. It doesn't consider high school record, high school class rank, college preparatory program, other tests, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What GPA do you need to get into Shepherd University?
Shepherd University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Can a 3.0 GPA get you into Shepherd University?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Shepherd University admitted 97% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
What is Shepherd University's acceptance rate?
Shepherd University's acceptance rate was 97% for fall 2024: it admitted 1,593 of 1,646 first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education.
Does Shepherd University look at legacy status?
No. Shepherd University doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What do students pay at Shepherd University after grants?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $12,651 a year at Shepherd University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Can you get college credit for AP scores at Shepherd University?
Yes. Shepherd University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Before you apply, check Shepherd University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Shepherd UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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