
Rome, GAprivate nonprofitshorter.edu
Admit rate has ranged 60%–97% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Shorter University is a small, Christ-centered liberal arts school in Rome, Georgia with a near-open admissions policy (97% acceptance rate) and a focus on affordability. Its tight-knit campus offers 40 traditional majors, strong business programs, and a safe, historic Southern setting—though graduation rates lag behind national averages. For students seeking a low-stakes, faith-based college experience with modest academic demands, Shorter delivers a no-frills education at a net price of $15,271 for federal loan recipients.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Shorter University is one of the least selective four-year institutions in the U.S., accepting 97% of applicants—effectively an open admissions policy. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 930-1130 on the SAT or 17-25 on the ACT, with a minimum 2.5 high school GPA required. Test scores are optional. The university emphasizes its Christ-centered mission in admissions materials but appears to prioritize accessibility over selectivity, with no mention of essays or recommendations in minimum requirements.
Shorter offers alongside online associate, bachelor’s, and master’s programs, with a . Business Administration is the most popular major, reflecting the university’s pragmatic orientation. The curriculum blends liberal arts foundations (writing, critical thinking) with Christian perspectives—theology courses are required. While not academically rigorous by national standards (the four-year graduation rate is just ), Shorter has earned niche recognition for its Christian education programs, scoring in one ranking. Online and professional studies cater to non-traditional students.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
With 1,257 undergraduates (nearly even gender split), Shorter fosters a close-knit, residential community. The historic campus—praised for its "Southern charm"—is notably safe, with 24/7 security. Student life revolves around:
Older infrastructure and limited amenities keep the vibe no-frills, but the university promotes a "holistic" approach to development through campus events and leadership opportunities.
Shorter struggles with low graduation rates: just 35% of students graduate within six years, dropping to 26% for male students. Job placement data is sparse, but the university tracks outcomes through course completions and graduate school admissions. Pell Grant recipients graduate at a 34% rate, slightly below the overall average. These metrics place Shorter in the bottom 15% nationally for student outcomes. The lack of prominent alumni networks or career services suggests graduates may face challenges in the job market.
Shorter’s average net price is $15,271 for federal loan recipients, with 78% of students receiving aid. The university offers:
After aid, the average cost drops to $16,692, though family income brackets show variability. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator suggests Shorter is affordable for lower-middle-income families, but the low graduation rates may diminish ROI.
Shorter’s singular appeal lies in its unapologetic Christian identity and barrier-free access—a rare combination among four-year colleges. The university doesn’t pretend to be elite (its 97% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. and modest academic requirements make that clear), but it delivers a low-cost, faith-infused education with small classes. Ideal for:
While outcomes are weak nationally, Shorter fills a niche for students who value spiritual growth alongside (or above) academic rigor.