Shaw University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Raleigh, North Carolina. It enrolls 875 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
52/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes4
Value23
Affordability81
Selectivity42
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 80.2%, Shaw University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
80.2%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Shaw University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
32.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Shaw University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $16,512 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$16,512
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
66%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
71%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$17,538
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,210
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,100
Books & Supplies
$1,300
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,440
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,390
Total Cost of Attendance
$30,861
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$16,236
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,276
$48,001 – $75,000
$21,145
Over $110,000
$24,966
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$32,500Medianpercentile
$30,00075%percentile
$44,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,000
↓ $12,500
No Pell $10,690
↓ $21,810
Dependent students $18,500
↓ $14,000
Independent students $25,910
↓ $6,590
Female students $21,500
↓ $11,000
Male students $15,484
↓ $17,016
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,250, less than completers ($32,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
22% of full-time students who enrolled at Shaw University graduate within six years, and 54% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
22%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
54%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Shaw University earn a median of $34,409 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$34,409
Earning > $25K
58%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$30,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$31,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$26,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$34,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$34,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
21.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Concerning. Only 41% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Shaw University is home to 875 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 40% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
875
Part-Time
6%
First-Generation
40%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 71.9%629
International 9.0%79
Hispanic 5.8%51
Other 4.2%37
White 1.7%15
Asian 0.5%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Shaw University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityRaleigh, North Carolina
Housing
Strongly residential773 beds for 875 students
Adult Learners
14%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Shaw University offers
a varied set of programs:
20 distinct programs across
13 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Shaw University is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$51M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$46,409
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
57 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
1
2%
$39,848
Associate Professors
8
14%
$46,561
Assistant Professors
34
60%
$49,134
Instructors
14
25%
$40,171
Pros & Cons of Shaw University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Shaw University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Higher than typical student debt at graduation
Best for:
Based on the data, Shaw University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Shaw University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Shaw University.
Is Shaw University hard to get into?
Shaw University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 80.2%.
What is the acceptance rate at Shaw University?
Shaw University has an acceptance rate of 80.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Shaw University cost?
The average net price after aid at Shaw University is $16,512 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Shaw University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $34,409 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $16,512 per year. That's roughly 2.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Shaw University known for?
Shaw University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Theology, Communication & Media. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Shaw University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Shaw University are $34,409, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Shaw University accredited?
Yes. Shaw University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Shaw University?
Shaw University enrolls 875 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Shaw University?
Shaw University graduates 22% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Shaw University a public or private college?
Shaw University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Shaw University located?
Shaw University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina.
What programs does Shaw University offer?
Shaw University offers 20 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Theology, Communication & Media.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Shaw University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Shaw University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in North Carolina
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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