The average acceptance rate at Shepherd over the past 10 years is 93.86%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 96.78%. The acceptance rate at Shepherd is relatively high, giving applicants a greater chance of admission.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 36.77%, and the 2025 yield is 31.70%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 26.41% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of Shepherd applicants decreased by 8.20% (147 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants decreased by 0.12% overall.
Key Takeaways: Shepherd Admission Metrics
Acceptance Rate Overview
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 96.78%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that Shepherd is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.
Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 31.70%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at Shepherd. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.
Application Volume & Admission Trends
For the 2025 admission cycle, Shepherd received approximately 1,646 applications, admitted 1,593 students, and enrolled 505 students. The application volume has remained relatively stable, suggesting consistent institutional appeal and recruitment effectiveness.
Acceptance Rate Changes
Shepherd 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at Shepherd over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 93.86%, while the most recent rate stands at 96.78%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 96.78%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 93.03% and for women is 94.55%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Shepherd have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes
Shepherd has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 43.08% in 2015 to 31.70% in 2025, representing a 26.41% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 36.77%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Shepherd from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 26.41% over this period.
Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 1,582, the average number of admitted is 1,485, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 543.
The number of Shepherd applicants decreased by 8.20% (147 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants decreased by 0.12% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Shepherd University from 2015 to 2025.
Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares Shepherd University' acceptance rate to similar schools.