Shippensburg University

Located on 200 acres approximately 40 miles southwest of Harrisburg in the beautiful Cumberland Valley, Shippensburg University was founded in 1871 as the Cumberland Valley State Normal School. Today, the university is a member of Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education. The majority of the more than 7,000 students are Pennsylvania residents. However, the university also attracts students from 15 nations and 20 other states.

Shippensburg University seeks to "help build a better, stronger South Central Pennsylvania and beyond, economically and culturally, through recruiting, retaining, and developing students, faculty, and staff who have the abilities, skills, and values to compete and contribute to their community in an evolving world."

To accomplish this vision, the university offers 100 undergraduate programs, 57 graduate programs, and one doctoral program. All classes are taught by faculty members and, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 20 to 1, students receive personalized instruction.

The campus features 7 residence halls and more than 150 student clubs and is home to the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center, a premiere 1,500-seat regional theater that hosts a wide-range of cultural programming, including concerts, comedians, and internationally-known speakers.

While here, students can enjoy exploring the surrounding area which offers a number of outdoor recreational opportunities, shopping, and dining experiences in Shippensburg and nearby downtown Carlisle, which is a short 20-minute drive from campus.

See below for some suggestions or further explore the restaurants and attractions of Cumberland Valley.

When planning a visit to campus, be sure to request a Visitors Guide or stop by our Visitors Center located at 33 West High Street, Carlisle.

Nearby Things to Do