Safety Score
1.51 /1K students
incidents per 1,000 enrolled
Shepherdstown, WV · Clery Act 2023 · Public
Shepherd University
According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 3,318-student campus.
- 1.51
- Incidents / 1k students
- #1,813
- Rank of 3,050
- #19
- WV rank
- 3,318
- Enrolled students
Data updated June 2026
The verdict
Shepherd University reports 1.51 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #1,813 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses - with more reported incidents than 57% of ranked campuses its size.
- 1.51
- incidents / 1,000 students
- #1,813
- of 3,050 ranked nationally
- 57%
- report fewer incidents than this campus
- 1
- on-campus incidents, 2023
Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).
Reporting-period change
What changed in 2023
Shepherd University decreased from 3 to 1 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.
This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.
See national reporting-year changesShepherd University is a Public institution located in Shepherdstown, WV, enrolling approximately 3,318 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 13 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within WV, it ranks #19 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →
With 3,318 enrolled students, this campus sits in the small college bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.
The most frequently reported category at Shepherd University is "Rape" with 10 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in WV averaging 8.02 incidents per 1,000 students, Shepherd University reports 81% fewer incidents per student.
Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 0 total fires. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 9 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. No Department of Education Clery Act enforcement actions are recorded against this institution.
National Rank
#1813
See peer comparison
State Rank (WV)
#19
within state peers
Incidents (2023)
1
across 11 crime categories
Where Shepherd University sits among ranked U.S. campuses
On-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 students, every ranked campus with 2,000+ students
2 safer than 43% of 1,807 ranked campuses
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more ranked campuses. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act) · 2023
Safety percentile vs. peers
Shepherd University percentile rank 40.6%
National median
Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #1813 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.
Reporting density vs peer median
Shepherd University reports 81% fewer incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.
Academic & Financial Profile
Tuition & Costs
- In-State Tuition
- $9,056
- Out-of-State Tuition
- $19,082
- Avg Net Price
- $11,363
- Median Debt
- $21,600
- Pell Grant Recipients
- 29%
Admissions
- Acceptance Rate
- 97%
- SAT Average
- 1034
- SAT Math Range
- 410–540
- ACT Average
- 23
- ACT Range
- 19–24
Outcomes
- 4-Year Graduation Rate
- 50%
- Retention Rate
- 71%
- Median Earnings (6yr)
- $43,726
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $49,358
- Loan Repayment (3yr)
- 66%
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.
Crime Statistics by Year
11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus onlyShepherd University: on-campus incidents by year
Declining 89% (9 → 1 incidents)
| Crime Type | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggravated Assault | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Burglary | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fondling | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Incest | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rape | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Statutory Rape | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents
Fire Safety
| Year | Fires | Inj. | Deaths | Cat I | Cat II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Arrests & Disciplinary Actions
9 category-year records| Category | Year | Arrests | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drugs | 2023 | 2 | 15 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 25 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2022 | 0 | 4 |
| Liquor | 2022 | 0 | 15 |
| Weapons | 2022 | 0 | 3 |
| Drugs | 2021 | 0 | 4 |
| Liquor | 2021 | 0 | 5 |
| Weapons | 2021 | 0 | 1 |
Shepherd University vs peer institutions
Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment
Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).
WV
Shepherd University
1.51 incidents / 1,000 students
LA
SOWELA Technical Community College
0.00 incidents / 1,000 students
TX
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
12.97 incidents / 1,000 students
Similar Institutions
SOWELA Technical Community College
Lake Charles, LA · 3,316 enrolled
Safety Score 0.00
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Galveston, TX · 3,315 enrolled
Safety Score 12.97
Wingate University
Wingate, NC · 3,322 enrolled
Safety Score 7.53
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College
Erie, PA · 3,323 enrolled
Safety Score 6.92
Saint Edward's University
Austin, TX · 3,309 enrolled
Safety Score 12.69
Closest by National Rank
Institutions ranked nearest Shepherd University nationally (rank #1813), regardless of size or state.
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC
National Rank #1812
Southwestern Illinois College
Belleville, IL
National Rank #1814
Bay de Noc Community College
Escanaba, MI
National Rank #1811
Pennsylvania Institute of Technology
Media, PA
National Rank #1815
College of Our Lady of the Elms
Chicopee, MA
National Rank #1810
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shepherd University safe?
Shepherd University has a safety score of 1.51 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #1,813 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at Shepherd University?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does Shepherd University compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in WV.
Does Shepherd University have fire safety data?
Yes. Shepherd University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. No fires were reported in the most recent year.
Understanding Shepherd University's Safety Profile
Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV enrolls 3,318 students and has a safety score of 1.51 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #1813 nationally. This relatively low score indicates fewer reported on-campus incidents relative to enrollment size.
Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents decreased from 3 in 2022 to 1 in 2023.
Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. No fires were reported in the most recent year, indicating effective fire prevention measures.
What this means for you
Shepherd University's 1.51 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.
- Weigh Shepherd University against similar-size campuses, scale changes what the raw count means. Compare campuses
- A higher count can mean stronger reporting, not more danger. How the data works
- Clery covers campus grounds only. Campus vs. city crime
Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.
Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.