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Shenandoah University
Shenandoah University says yes to 77% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $58,433 median earnings.
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Shenandoah University sits in Winchester proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The school maintains its United Methodist affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $91,096 four years out. 18.9% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 2,116 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 81.7% of first-years come back for a second year.
Shenandoah University won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Shenandoah University received 3,763 applications and admitted 2,929 (77.8%), with 485 enrolling.
Leave the SAT prep out of this one — test scores are disregarded entirely. Shenandoah University's 77% admission rate turned on grades and application strength.
How Shenandoah University compares
| Shenandoah University | Virginia median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 77% | 83.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $36,950 | $21,650 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $58,433 | $53,453 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Shenandoah University: $58,433 median at year ten, versus $53,453 across Virginia institutions.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $36,950 regardless of where you're from. At Shenandoah University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
At 2,116 undergrads, Shenandoah University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
66.8% graduate within six years. Roughly 33% don't — ask a Shenandoah University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Shenandoah University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $91,096 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $66,673 |
| Biology, General | $66,070 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $64,373 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $63,290 |
| Psychology, General | $58,144 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $54,490 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $40,457 |
| Music | $30,758 |
Median earnings for these 9 Shenandoah University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $58,433 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 31 additional Shenandoah University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Shenandoah University?
Shenandoah University doesn't look at test scores; its 77% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is Shenandoah University's acceptance rate?
77.8% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 2,929 admitted from 3,763 applicants.
How much does Shenandoah University cost?
At Shenandoah University, published tuition is $36,950 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Shenandoah University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Shenandoah University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $58,433 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Virginia
- Roanoke College — 83.1% admitted
- Sweet Briar College — 75.5% admitted
- Virginia Military Institute — 71.3% admitted
- Virginia Wesleyan University — 72.9% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.