Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 4,086 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.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
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
Outcomes48
Value36
Affordability37
Selectivity34
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 86.5%, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
86.5%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
16 – 28
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
5.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 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 $23,726 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$23,726
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
30%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
58%
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 (in-state)
$13,720
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$15,974
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,340
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,548
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,782
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,782
Total Cost of Attendance
$30,785
Application fee: $45 (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
$18,709
$30,001 – $48,000
$18,515
$48,001 – $75,000
$21,386
$75,001 – $110,000
$25,469
Over $110,000
$28,387
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.
$4,03010%percentile
$6,69925%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$31,00090%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 $16,500
↓ $8,500
No Pell $15,957
↓ $9,043
Dependent students $16,192
↓ $8,808
Independent students $16,227
↓ $8,773
Female students $17,500
↓ $7,500
Male students $15,000
↓ $10,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
58% of full-time students who enrolled at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania graduate within six years, and 76% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
58%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
76%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania earn a median of $56,351 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$56,351
Earning > $25K
85%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
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
$42,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$53,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$43,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$47,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,800, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
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.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
10.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is home to 4,086 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 34% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
4,086
Part-Time
5%
First-Generation
34%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 75.0%3,066
Black 10.1%412
Hispanic 7.8%320
Other 3.6%145
Asian 1.1%44
International 0.9%35
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: FringeShippensburg, Pennsylvania
Housing
Mostly residential2,538 beds on campus
Adult Learners
5%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
58 distinct programs across
20 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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$11,958
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$59M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$102,989
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
233 instructional faculty across 4 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
86
37%
$121,670
Associate Professors
108
46%
$99,198
Assistant Professors
25
11%
$80,975
Instructors
14
6%
$56,783
Pros & Cons of Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Class sizes are on the higher side
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.
Is Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania hard to get into?
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 86.5%.
What is the acceptance rate at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania?
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania has an acceptance rate of 86.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What ACT score do you need for Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania scored between 16 and 28 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania cost?
The average net price after aid at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is $23,726 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $56,351 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $23,726 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania known for?
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is best known for its programs in Marketing, Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania are $56,351, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania accredited?
Yes. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania?
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania enrolls 4,086 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania?
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania graduates 58% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania a public or private college?
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a Public institution.
Where is Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania located?
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is located in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania offer?
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania offers 58 distinct programs. The most popular include Marketing, Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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