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Is Shepherd University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Shepherd, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Workable
Shepherd lands in the workable band for a typical family. Median debt of $21,600 can be carried by median long-run earnings of $49,358, but the margin is not huge. For context, Shepherd's net price is about 4% below the typical 4-year, public school. This is the kind of school where your actual aid offer can move the answer meaningfully.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$12,651
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrThis helps your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $504 less per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $2,000 in savings.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$11,363
Median earnings 10 years out
$49,358
Median debt at graduation
$21,600
Graduation rate
50%
At Shepherd, a typical graduate carries about $21,600 in student debt and earns roughly $49,358 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $246 per month, or 6% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Shepherd is a public four year school in Shepherdstown, WV. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
West Virginia State
Institute, WV
Worth-It Score: 57/100
Median net price: $11,139
Public 4-year
Concord
Athens, WV
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $9,966
Public 4-year
Bluefield State
Bluefield, WV
Worth-It Score: 51/100
Median net price: $13,684
Public 4-year
Glenville State
Glenville, WV
Worth-It Score: 49/100
Median net price: $14,006
Public 4-year
Fairmont State
Fairmont, WV
Worth-It Score: 63/100
Median net price: $9,032
Common questions about Shepherd
The median net price at Shepherd is $11,363 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in West Virginia? See the most affordable public universities in West Virginia →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →