Graduates of Shepherd University earn median 4-year earnings of $55,251, placing Shepherd University in the 30.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,600 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Shepherd University in the 51.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Shepherd University #819 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect Shepherd's concentration in health-related fields, where graduates move into stable, in-demand roles with consistent early-career earnings trajectories. The earnings pattern centers on health professions and applied sciences. Business Administration is the largest program with 75 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $62,588, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The General Studies program graduates 71 students earning $49,153, while Nursing with 62 graduates reaches $78,764. Teacher Education and Artificial Intelligence round out the top five, each contributing to the institution's health-focused program portfolio. This concentration in Health fields — which together represent a substantial share of degree output — creates a coherent earnings signature aligned with regional labor-market demand in West Virginia and surrounding areas.
Graduates of Shepherd University earn median 4-year earnings of $55,251, placing Shepherd University in the 30.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,600 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Shepherd University in the 51.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Shepherd University #819 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect Shepherd's concentration in health-related fields, where graduates move into stable, in-demand roles with consistent early-career earnings trajectories. The earnings pattern centers on health professions and applied sciences. Business Administration is the largest program with 75 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $62,588, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The General Studies program graduates 71 students earning $49,153, while Nursing with 62 graduates reaches $78,764. Teacher Education and Artificial Intelligence round out the top five, each contributing to the institution's health-focused program portfolio. This concentration in Health fields — which together represent a substantial share of degree output — creates a coherent earnings signature aligned with regional labor-market demand in West Virginia and surrounding areas.
Latest FE earnings field: 10-year
Lower quartile, 10-year field
How graduate earnings grow across the currently available FE horizons.
Financial justification for the investment.
Graduates of Shepherd University earn median 4-year earnings of $55,251, placing Shepherd University in the 30.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,600 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Shepherd University in the 51.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Shepherd University #819 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect Shepherd's concentration in health-related fields, where graduates move into stable, in-demand roles with consistent early-career earnings trajectories. The earnings pattern centers on health professions and applied sciences. Business Administration is the largest program with 75 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $62,588, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The General Studies program graduates 71 students earning $49,153, while Nursing with 62 graduates reaches $78,764. Teacher Education and Artificial Intelligence round out the top five, each contributing to the institution's health-focused program portfolio. This concentration in Health fields — which together represent a substantial share of degree output — creates a coherent earnings signature aligned with regional labor-market demand in West Virginia and surrounding areas.
Program mix and student pathways explain much of the earnings story.
Shepherd University's program mix centers on health and applied professional fields, reflecting the institution's regional mission as a comprehensive public university. Business Administration is the largest program with 75 graduates annually, followed by General Studies, Nursing, Teacher Education, and Artificial Intelligence. Across 21 programs serving roughly 565 students annually, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with particular strength in health-related and business-oriented fields. The earnings pattern reflects Shepherd University's focus on direct-to-workforce pathways. Nursing leads with median earnings of $78,764 four years after enrollment, with 62 graduates. Artificial Intelligence graduates earn $74,218 with a cohort of 37, while Business Administration delivers $62,588 for 75 graduates. Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General and Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies round out the highest-earning programs, earning $56,953 and $51,789 respectively. These outcomes reflect the institution's emphasis on applied health sciences and business fields where employers recruit actively and starting salaries support early-career financial stability. Shepherd University's program distribution—with Business representing 15%, Education at 8%, and Arts at 6%—positions the institution as a regional hub for health professions and business education. Most programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly, particularly in nursing, allied health, and accounting fields where demand remains strong. The supply and demand for college graduates provides context for how these dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market trends.
Upper quartile, 10-year field
Graduates of Shepherd University earn median 4-year earnings of $55,251, placing Shepherd University in the 30.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,600 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Shepherd University in the 51.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Shepherd University #819 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect Shepherd's concentration in health-related fields, where graduates move into stable, in-demand roles with consistent early-career earnings trajectories. The earnings pattern centers on health professions and applied sciences. Business Administration is the largest program with 75 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $62,588, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The General Studies program graduates 71 students earning $49,153, while Nursing with 62 graduates reaches $78,764. Teacher Education and Artificial Intelligence round out the top five, each contributing to the institution's health-focused program portfolio. This concentration in Health fields — which together represent a substantial share of degree output — creates a coherent earnings signature aligned with regional labor-market demand in West Virginia and surrounding areas.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
