Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Shippensburg, PA 17257-2299
About Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public research university in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, serving roughly 4,086 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 86.50% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $56,351 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania charges about 2.5× the national public median tuition ($13,720).
- Versus the Pennsylvania median, sticker tuition is 29% below.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 55.70%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $56,351.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 494% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 63 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | $13,720 | $23,726 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Pennsylvania (state median) | $19,450 | $17,754 | 181 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania really?
Key findings
- Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania charges about 2.5× the national public median tuition ($13,720).
- Versus the Pennsylvania median, sticker tuition is 29% below.
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $13,720
Finding Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania charges about 2.5× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $13,720. That is about 2.5× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Pennsylvania median ($19,450), sticker tuition is 29% below. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 15% above.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is $23,726.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $23,726 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $5,972 above the Pennsylvania median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $8,755 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$13,720
Out-of-state tuition
$15,974
Avg. net price
$23,726
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $18,709 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $18,515 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $21,386 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $25,469 |
| $110,001+ | $28,387 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $54,880. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is known for
Top program completions
- Business Administration and Management, General131
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching77
- Psychology, General73
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General69
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies63
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 20% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1120
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.
Campus
Location
Shippensburg, PA
City / state
- ZIP
- 17257-2299
- NCES locale
- Town fringe
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 58% above the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Mid East
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Size
Enrollment
4,086
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 4,927
- Graduate
- 790
- Full-time share
- 95%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$25,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 29.77%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $9,448 | $17,916 | $17,420 |
| 2014 | $9,774 | $18,520 | $19,514 |
| 2015 | $10,052 | $19,106 | $20,449 |
| 2016 | $11,452 | $19,542 | $20,796 |
| 2017 | $12,086 | $20,186 | $21,714 |
| 2018 | $12,718 | $20,760 | $21,822 |
| 2019 | $13,544 | $21,586 | $22,054 |
| 2020 | $13,544 | $14,272 | $23,006 |
| 2021 | $13,544 | $14,272 | $22,012 |
| 2022 | $13,544 | $14,272 | $21,562 |
| 2023 | $13,544 | $15,798 | $23,553 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1120 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania reported total enrollment of about 4,086 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 49% male and 51% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (75.0%), Black or African American (10.1%), and Hispanic or Latino (7.8%). About 29.77% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 33.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
94.5% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in 2024 is 4,086 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 4,927 students. Graduate enrollment is about 790 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
76.8%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
40.68% 100% Completion Time
55.70% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 40.68% of students graduating from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 56% male / 44% female
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching: 8% male / 92% female
- Psychology, General: 19% male / 81% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania graduates earn a median of $56,351 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $56,351. Median federal loan debt: $25,000. Average net price used in cost models: $23,726.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania graduates report median earnings of $56,351 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (63 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$59.1M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Pennsylvania median 1.2× the median ($47.9M)
- Mid East median 1.4× the median ($42.6M)
- U.S. median 2.2× the median ($26.4M)
- Pennsylvania median 0.52× the median ($24,897)
- Mid East median 0.78× the median ($16,427)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 80.7%
- Pennsylvania median 17.5 pp above median (63.1%)
- Mid East median 23.8 pp above median (56.9%)
- U.S. median 22.7 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $12,033
- Pennsylvania median 1.5× the median ($8,003)
- Mid East median 1.5× the median ($8,119)
- U.S. median 1.6× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $11,381
- Pennsylvania median 1.3× the median ($8,615)
- Mid East median 1.2× the median ($9,164)
- U.S. median 1.6× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania at a glance
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public institution in Shippensburg, PA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Business Administration and Management, GeneralEarly Childhood Education & TeachingPsychology, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian75.0%Black or African American10.1%Hispanic or Latino7.8%
Schools near Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Other campuses in Shippensburg, PA when available, plus nearby institutions in Pennsylvania.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C) within Pennsylvania, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania located?
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is located in Shippensburg, PA.
What is Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is 86.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 6,545 applicants and 5,599 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania's tuition?
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $13,720 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $23,726 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania cost?
Reported tuition is $13,720 and average net price is $23,726 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,340 annually.
What explains Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($23,726), completion (55.7% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($56,351). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania?
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania reports undergraduate enrollment of about 4,927 students, White (75.0%), Black or African American (10.1%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania?
About 33.5% of students at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania reports midpoint SAT about 1120.
What do graduates of Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania earn?
Median earnings are $45,010 six years after entry and $56,351 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania?
The 150%-time completion rate is 55.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,000.
Is Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania public or private?
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public institution located in Shippensburg, PA.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.