Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 58/100

Shenandoah University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Winchester, Virginia

About Shenandoah University

Shenandoah University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Winchester, Virginia. It enrolls 2,116 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
77%
Graduation
61.3%
Net Price
$30,298
Median Earnings (10yr)
$58,433
Enrollment
2,116
Student : Faculty
11:1

Accreditor Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good
58/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes 68
Value 17
Affordability 15
Selectivity 49

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 77%, Shenandoah University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate
77%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Shenandoah University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable 3.5 pts since 2019
74.4%201974.4%202074.4%202180.4%202277.8%2023

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Shenandoah University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $30,298 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$30,298
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
19%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
51%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees
$36,950
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,490
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,490
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,600
Total Cost of Attendance
$51,928

Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)


Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $24,356
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $26,715
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $26,635
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $30,332
  • Over $110,000
    $33,591

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$5,500
10% percentile
$10,000
25% percentile
$25,000
Median percentile
$27,000
75% percentile
$31,075
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,000 ↓ $5,000
No Pell $18,769 ↓ $6,231
Dependent students $18,500 ↓ $6,500
Independent students $24,940
Female students $20,500 ↓ $4,500
Male students $15,000 ↓ $10,000
Pell recipients: 17.0% (4,248 students)No Pell: 15.9% (3,986 students)Dependent students: 15.7% (3,929 students)Independent students: 21.2% (5,297 students)Female students: 17.4% (4,354 students)Male students: 12.7% (3,186 students)Overall Median$25,000
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

61% of full-time students who enrolled at Shenandoah University graduate within six years, and 82% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
61%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
82%
Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Shenandoah University earn a median of $58,433 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$58,433
Earning > $25K
80%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$47,000$50,000$53,000$57,000$60,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$51,800

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$53,100

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$50,100

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$53,500

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$52,600

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Stable 3.9 pts across 6 years
71.9%1yr76.5%3yr74.7%5yr75.8%7yr
What this signals: Strong. 76% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Shenandoah University is home to 2,116 students, a mid-sized community.

Total Enrolled
2,116
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
28%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 60.8% 1,286
Hispanic 12.7% 268
Black 8.9% 188
Other 5.7% 120
Asian 3.0% 63
International 1.4% 29
White: 60.8% (1,286 students)Hispanic: 12.7% (268 students)Black: 8.9% (188 students)Other: 5.7% (120 students)Asian: 3.0% (63 students)International: 1.4% (29 students)Total2,116

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Shenandoah University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Small City Winchester, Virginia
Housing
Mostly residential 1,295 beds on campus
Adult Learners
7% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

Shenandoah University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 70 distinct programs across 21 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

14 Programs
8 Programs
4 Programs
5 Programs
2 Programs
5 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Shenandoah University is 11:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$190M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$75,211
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

266 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 57 21% $87,422
Associate Professors 98 37% $77,389
Assistant Professors 83 31% $68,851
Instructors 3 1% $64,697
Lecturers 25 9% $61,208

Pros & Cons of Shenandoah University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Shenandoah University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Accessible admissions for most applicants
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
  • Above-average net price
  • Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for: Based on the data, Shenandoah University is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.

Frequently Asked Questions about Shenandoah University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Shenandoah University.

Is Shenandoah University hard to get into?
Shenandoah University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 77%.
What is the acceptance rate at Shenandoah University?
Shenandoah University has an acceptance rate of 77%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Shenandoah University cost?
The average net price after aid at Shenandoah University is $30,298 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Shenandoah University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $58,433 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $30,298 per year. That's roughly 1.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Shenandoah University known for?
Shenandoah University is best known for its programs in Pharmacy, Rehabilitation, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Shenandoah University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Shenandoah University are $58,433, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Shenandoah University accredited?
Yes. Shenandoah University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Shenandoah University?
Shenandoah University enrolls 2,116 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Shenandoah University?
Shenandoah University graduates 61% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Shenandoah University a public or private college?
Shenandoah University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Shenandoah University located?
Shenandoah University is located in Winchester, Virginia.
What programs does Shenandoah University offer?
Shenandoah University offers 70 distinct programs. The most popular include Pharmacy, Rehabilitation, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Shenandoah University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Shenandoah University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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