Shorter University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Rome, Georgia. It enrolls 1,028 students (a small, tight-knit 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.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
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.
Fair
55/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes14
Value49
Affordability64
Selectivity17
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 96.5%, Shorter University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
96.5%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1040 – 1200
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 25
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 Shorter University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
36.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Shorter 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 $16,646 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$16,646
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
38%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
48%
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
$24,630
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,920
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,450
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,160
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,501
Total Cost of Attendance
$35,726
Application fee: $25 (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
$15,929
$30,001 – $48,000
$21,482
$48,001 – $75,000
$22,944
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,292
Over $110,000
$18,898
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.
$4,75010%percentile
$7,62425%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$32,50075%percentile
$47,75090%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 $13,744
↓ $11,256
No Pell $11,975
↓ $13,025
Dependent students $10,290
↓ $14,710
Independent students $21,689
↓ $3,311
Female students $16,516
↓ $8,484
Male students $9,626
↓ $15,374
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,401, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
49% of full-time students who enrolled at Shorter University graduate within six years, and 64% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
49%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
64%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Shorter University earn a median of $44,604 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$44,604
Earning > $25K
72%
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
$45,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$59,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$38,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$47,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$59,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,900, about 23% 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 ↑
25.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 64% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Shorter University is home to 1,028 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 35% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,028
Part-Time
5%
First-Generation
35%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 59.1%607
Black 22.8%234
Hispanic 10.4%107
Other 4.1%42
International 2.5%26
Asian 0.6%6
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Shorter University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityRome, Georgia
Housing
Strongly residential760 beds for 1,028 students
Adult Learners
11%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Shorter University offers
a varied set of programs:
30 distinct programs across
19 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 Shorter University is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$42M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$44,130
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
77 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
14
18%
$44,326
Associate Professors
26
34%
$46,108
Assistant Professors
35
45%
$43,997
No Rank
2
3%
$19,382
Pros & Cons of Shorter University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Shorter University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Shorter University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Shorter University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Shorter University.
Is Shorter University hard to get into?
Shorter University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 96.5%.
What is the acceptance rate at Shorter University?
Shorter University has an acceptance rate of 96.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Shorter University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Shorter University scored between 1040 and 1200 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Shorter University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Shorter University scored between 18 and 25 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Shorter University cost?
The average net price after aid at Shorter University is $16,646 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Shorter University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,604 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $16,646 per year. That's roughly 2.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Shorter University known for?
Shorter University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12), Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Shorter University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Shorter University are $44,604, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Shorter University accredited?
Yes. Shorter University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Shorter University?
Shorter University enrolls 1,028 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Shorter University?
Shorter University graduates 49% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Shorter University a public or private college?
Shorter University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Shorter University located?
Shorter University is located in Rome, Georgia.
What programs does Shorter University offer?
Shorter University offers 30 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12), Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Shorter University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Shorter University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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