Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Shenandoah University #1248 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,789 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Shenandoah University in the 45.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Shenandoah University #662 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Shenandoah University's composite ranking reflects strong graduate outcomes relative to cost paid, with graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $65,784. These outcomes place the institution in the 70.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Shenandoah University #1248 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private doctoral/professional university in Winchester, VA, Shenandoah University enrolls roughly 2,116 undergraduates. Retention is 81.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 66.8%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Where Shenandoah University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Shenandoah University #662 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,789 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Shenandoah University in the 45.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This strength reflects the university's concentration in health-related fields, where demand and early-career earnings remain robust across the labor market. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Shenandoah University sits in the 19.2 percentile for access and the 11.5 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a private institution's tuition structure and more selective enrollment profile. 18.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 27.7% are first-generation college students. Mobility outcomes rank in the 19.5 percentile, indicating that while the institution delivers strong earnings, the breadth of low-income student access and upward-mobility support remains a secondary strength relative to return on investment.
Shenandoah University's published cost of attendance is $51,928. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $24,356, middle-income families pay around $26,635, and higher-income families pay approximately $33,591. Azimuth ranks Shenandoah University #1261 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Shenandoah University participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The university's aid structure is need-based, with aid packages determined through the FAFSA. Families should review the institution's financial aid page for current aid policies and application requirements. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $46,387; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $65,784, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Shenandoah University is a strong fit for students drawn to health professions who want a private nonprofit university experience in VA. Its program mix is concentrated in Health, which represents 12% of graduates and anchors the institution's economic signature. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $65,784, placing Shenandoah University in the 70.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $2,789 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 45.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls 18.9% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 27.7% who are first-generation students. Published cost of attendance is $33,591, with typical federal debt at graduation of $25,000. Fit depends on program alignment — students interested in Health fields will find the strongest outcomes at this institution. The earnings trajectory corresponds to VA's regional labor market and represents meaningful returns relative to the state's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $34,020.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Shenandoah University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Shenandoah University's published cost of attendance is $51,928. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $24,356, middle-income families pay around $26,635, and higher-income families pay approximately $33,591.
Azimuth ranks Shenandoah University #1261 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Shenandoah University participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The university's aid structure is need-based, with aid packages determined through the FAFSA.
Families should review the institution's [financial aid page](https://www.su.edu/admissions/financial-aid/) for current aid policies and application requirements. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $46,387; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $65,784, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Shenandoah University earn median 4-year earnings of $65,784, placing Shenandoah University in the 70.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $2,789 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Shenandoah University in the 45.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Shenandoah University #662 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Shenandoah University's concentration in health-related fields.
Nursing is the largest program with 144 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $91,096, which is 1.0x the national benchmark for the field [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). The Business Administration program graduates 59 students with median 4-year earnings of $66,673, representing 1.0x the benchmark.
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences and Biology, General follow with 40 and 37 graduates respectively, earning $54,490 and $66,070 four years after enrollment. This program-level strength in health professions — the institution's dominant family — drives consistent outcomes across a career-focused portfolio.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
144 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
59 graduates
Biology, General
37 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
30 graduates
Public Health
18 graduates
Shenandoah University's program mix centers on Health fields, reflecting the institution's professional and clinical focus. Nursing is the largest program with 144 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences, Biology, General, and Psychology, General.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 548 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with the institution's health-professions identity. Nursing leads the earnings profile, with 144 graduates earning median earnings of $91,096 four years after enrollment.
Business Administration follows with graduates earning $66,673, and Biology, General delivers median earnings of $66,070. Kinesiology and Criminal Justice round out the highest-earning programs with median earnings of $64,373 and $63,290 respectively.
This concentration in health and clinical pathways reflects strong regional demand for nursing, therapy, and healthcare-adjacent professionals in the Mid-Atlantic labor market. Many of Shenandoah University's dominant programs are direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter stable, in-demand roles immediately after completion.
Nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and related health sciences are high-mobility fields where four-year earnings reflect actual labor-market outcomes and ongoing wage growth in healthcare sectors. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's program concentration aligns with national workforce demand in health professions.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Union Commonwealth University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#33853 ranked) | KY | 63% | $42,002 | #33853 | Compare |
Roger Williams University Similar quality tier (#33854 ranked) | RI | 88% | $70,266 | #33854 | Compare |
Vassar College Similar quality tier (#33851 ranked) | NY | 19% | $71,366 | #33851 | Compare |
Anderson University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#33850 ranked) | SC | 55% | $42,101 | #33850 | Compare |
Dordt University Similar quality tier (#33848 ranked) | IA | 68% | $52,559 | #33848 | Compare |
