Everything you'd ask a college counselor about Shippensburg University — the admissions math, the real cost after aid, how many students actually finish, and the thirty-six professors you might learn from — pulled into one page you can bring to your next campus visit.
Ship is a public Pennsylvania State System university between Harrisburg and DC. It's non-selective, affordable for in-state students, and strong in teacher preparation and public history. Here's the snapshot.
Ship's admissions office exists to admit students, not to gate-keep. If you have a B-average transcript and you care enough to finish the application, your odds are good.
The acceptance rate hovers around 86–87%. Ship is test-optional, so an SAT score under 1000 or a missed ACT isn't a dealbreaker — admissions looks at your transcript first, then your class rank if your school reports one, then letters of recommendation.
The deadline is rolling, which means apply when you're ready rather than racing to a November 1st. Earlier is better for scholarship consideration. The application fee is $45, and there are waivers.
If you're aiming at Ship's Wood Honors College or specific scholarships, your application needs to be stronger — targets closer to a 3.5 GPA and SAT above 1150 make those within reach.
Ship is a safety school for most juniors. Use it to anchor your list, not to bet the whole house.
Common App or the Ship application portal. Transcripts, GPA, and high school record required.
SAT/ACT optional. Middle 50% of submitters: SAT 1000–1210, ACT 16–28.
Rolling admissions. Apply earlier for better scholarship chances.
$45 application fee. Waivers available for demonstrated need.
Ship is one of the most affordable four-year options in Pennsylvania because it's part of the state system. Here's the real math, including how your family's income changes the net price.
In-state tuition and fees are $13,644. Add on-campus housing and a meal plan (~$13k–$17k depending on room/meal choice) and the total cost of attendance is around $31,900.
But the average net price after aid is $21,562, which is what families in the federal-loan cohort actually paid. The net price drops steeply for lower-income families — a family earning under $30k pays roughly $17,800, while a family earning $75k–$110k pays closer to $25,000.
Freshmen are required to live on campus, so plan the housing/meal cost into your first year. After that, many students move off-campus, which can trim the annual total.
Run Ship's net price calculator with your actual family numbers. The sticker shock disappears for most in-state students.
The gap between the 4-year and 6-year graduation rates is the single most important number on this page. Read it as: plan for a fifth year's worth of runway.
The average salary number masks big differences by field. Ship graduates enter the workforce at very different pay scales depending on what they studied.
Higher-earning fields: Computer Engineering (~$66,760), Accounting (~$49,738), Finance (~$48,590), Business Administration (~$46,062), Management Information Systems (~$43,885).
Lower-earning fields: Fine and Studio Arts (~$18,219), Health and Physical Education (~$23,103), Journalism, Psychology, and English Language all sit in the $26,000–$31,000 range at entry.
If you're going into teaching — one of Ship's biggest programs — the average secondary-education salary in Pennsylvania is around $45,000, climbing with experience and advanced certifications.
Your major matters more than the school's name for your first salary. Ship's outcomes by field are consistent with national norms.
1,285 degrees awarded. Most popular: Marketing (83), Biology (69), Psychology (68).
27% of first-years who leave transfer to another school. Not unusual for regional publics.
Strong placement with PA state government, DC-area federal roles, school districts, and regional employers.
Common pipelines: law school, public history MA, MBA, K–12 teaching certification.
Ship sits halfway between Harrisburg and Gettysburg, about three hours from DC and Philly. The campus feels quiet and grounded; don't come expecting a city.
~4,371 undergrads, ~5,184 total with grad students. Midsize for a regional public.
18:1 ratio. Small classes in upper-level courses; larger gen-ed lectures.
Freshmen required to live on campus. Capacity ~2,549 in residence halls.
NCAA Division II — Shippensburg Raiders. Active Greek life and Activities Program Board.
Small town, 210-acre campus, Cumberland County. Between Harrisburg and Chambersburg.
You'll want a car. Limited public transit. Harrisburg (45 min), DC (~2.5 hrs), Philly (~3 hrs).
Wood Honors College offers small seminars, a capstone, and scholarship consideration.
~90 undergraduate majors. Strong in teacher education, criminal justice, business, biology.
Click any card to open a full profile: research interests, publications, and three specific questions you could ask this professor if you emailed them or stopped by office hours. Prep for a visit starts here.