Shaw University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who want small classes and close faculty access. graduation rate is below 25% — most students don't finish here; median debt is moderately high. 66% of students receive Pell Grants — strong access mission.
About This School
Shaw University is a private nonprofit institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina with approximately 875 undergraduate students enrolled. Shaw University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 80%. The average net price after financial aid is $16,512 per year. The graduation rate is 22%, and the typical graduate earns $30,500 within 10 years of enrollment.
Shaw University is a private historically Black university in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded on December 1, 1865, Shaw University is the oldest HBCU to begin offering courses in the Southern United States. The school had its origin in the formation of a theological class of freedmen in the Guion Hotel. The following year it moved to a large wooden building, at the corner of Blount and Cabarrus Streets in Raleigh, where it continued as the Raleigh Institute until 1870. In 1870, the school moved to its current location on the former property of Confederate General Barringer and changed its name to the Shaw Collegiate Institute, in honor of Elijah Shaw. In 1875, the school was officially chartered with the State of North Carolina as Shaw University.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: as the oldest HBCU in the South with a selective 30% acceptance rate and a manageable net price of $14,083/year, Shaw carries real historical weight and remains affordable — but a 20% graduation rate and 56% freshman retention rate signal that most students who start here don't finish, which is a serious concern worth discussing. Median earnings of $30,500 a decade after enrollment are modest, though the debt load of $19,000 at graduation is relatively reasonable if you do complete your degree. Worth considering if Shaw's HBCU community and Raleigh location are strong draws, but come in with a clear plan and strong support system — the data suggests many students struggle to make it to the finish line.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 7% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Worth scrutinizing. Median earnings relative to debt are tight.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (875 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in North Carolina
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · Public
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC · Public
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · Public
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC · Public
Wake Technical Community College
Raleigh, NC · Public
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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