C+
Above Average
Score: 54/100
Overall (traditional)
F
Outcome Rating
16/100 · earnings-weighted

Shaw University

4-Year Private Non-Profit HBCU
📍 Raleigh, North Carolina 27601
Shaw University campus, Raleigh, NC
Shaw University campus, Raleigh, NC. Photo: Daderot, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
C
47/100
Affordability
C
50/100
Resources
B
71/100
Experience
B
67/100
Prestige
C
41/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

962
Total Enrollment
20%
Graduation Rate
56%
Retention Rate
11.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
30%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Shaw University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$34,409
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$26,148
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$32,500
Median debt at graduation
21.8%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
66.4%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 94% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 4th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (NC wage index 0.87). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Shaw University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Business Administration, Management and Operations$34,652$47,401-31%#1128 of 1176#1100$28,672
Social Work$31,138$46,981-9%#342 of 420#320$29,836
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$18,987$44,010-19%#563 of 610#526$28,000
Criminal Justice and Corrections$25,649$43,299-22%#627 of 660#615$37,484
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies$32,241————$35,000
Communication and Media Studies—$28,545-49%#659 of 660#659$40,500

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Shaw University Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $504,643
  • Avg rent near campus: $1,699/mo — vs ~$449/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 27610 (4.6% cap, Raleigh)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

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Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $12,408 $12,408
Room $4,040
Board $4,900
Total Cost (On-Campus) $30,856 $30,856

Financial Aid

99%
Receive Any Aid
77%
Receive Pell Grants
52%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Student Demographics

962
Total Students
52%
Women
85%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 2%
Hispanic 3%
Black 64%
Asian 1%
Two or More 5%
Non-Resident 9%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 35%
Hybrid (Some Online) 51%
Fully Online 15%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 85%
25-64 (Adult) 13%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Shaw University?
Shaw University has an acceptance rate of 30%. This makes it a moderately selective institution with competitive admission standards.
How much does it cost to attend Shaw University?
Tuition at Shaw University is $12,408 for in-state students and $12,408 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at Shaw University?
The graduation rate at Shaw University is 20%. This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.
Is Shaw University a good school?
Shaw University has a Repit College Score of 54/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (B): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Shaw University?
Shaw University has a total enrollment of 962 students. Most students (85%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Shaw University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Shaw University

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

C+
Johnson C Smith University
Charlotte, NC · 1,102 students
C+
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · 1,846 students
C
Brevard College
Brevard, NC · 787 students
C+
Meredith College
Raleigh, NC · 1,576 students
C
Catawba College
Salisbury, NC · 1,241 students
C
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Hickory, NC · 2,230 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology