About Shaw University

Founded in 1865, Shaw University. is a Private college. Located in North Carolina, which is a city setting in North Carolina, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 1,713 full time undergraduate students, and 131 full time graduate students.

The Shaw University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 19:1. There are 76 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Shaw University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate48%
Application Deadline
Application Fee25
SAT Range
ACT Range

Admissions at are considered More Selective, with ,17% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 7 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

22% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 4% were in the top quarter, and 1% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Shaw University.

10%
“We”re apathetic”
29%
“We know about current events and vote”
52%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
10%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
5%
“We save it for the classroom”
33%
“Sometimes, but not often”
29%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
33%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
10%
“I only go out in groups”
67%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
24%
“I feel extremely safe”
10%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
35%
“We bought the gear”
55%
“We live for the big game”
25%
“It”s not really our thing”
20%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
40%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
15%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
14%
“Available in class”
57%
“They keep regular office hours”
29%
“They”re always available”
0%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
38%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
52%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
10%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
10%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
71%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
19%
“We only party on weekends”
0%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
20%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
50%
“There might be people who do”
15%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
15%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
10%
“We”re apathetic”
29%
“We know about current events and vote”
52%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
10%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
5%
“We save it for the classroom”
33%
“Sometimes, but not often”
29%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
33%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
10%
“I only go out in groups”
67%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
24%
“I feel extremely safe”
10%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
35%
“We bought the gear”
55%
“We live for the big game”
25%
“It”s not really our thing”
20%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
40%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
15%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
14%
“Available in class”
57%
“They keep regular office hours”
29%
“They”re always available”
0%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
38%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
52%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
10%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
10%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
71%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
19%
“We only party on weekends”
0%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
20%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
50%
“There might be people who do”
15%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
15%
“There”s a huge drug scene”

Shaw University REVIEWS

Write a review, Enter to win $1,000 Scholarship
  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    59 Students rated on-campus housing 2.9 stars. 7 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    46 Students rated off-campus housing 3.1 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    62 Students rated campus food 2.7 stars. 10 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    70 Students rated campus facilities 3 stars. 14 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    70 Students rated class size 4.1 stars. 44 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    69 Students rated school activities 3.4 stars. 25 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    69 Students rated local services 3.9 stars. 43 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    70 Students rated academics 3.2 stars. 26 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of Shaw University?

26 Students rated Shaw University

Emoni

Shaw University is a great learning institution. They offer a wide range of majors and teachers who are willing to help you achieve. The number 1 thing I love about attending Shaw is the diversity, just because it's an HBCU doesn't mean it's just blacks who attend. I've met great friends and gained a lot of knowledge so far and only been attending for two years. Budgeting, history of my college, how to study more wisely and much more was taught to me while attending. Shaw also offers a great meal plan. Sometimes the food can be great and some days it just isn't. But all around its an awesome school.

T

Shaw University could be a great school if they better their housing, food, and financial aid. I attended for 1 year it felt more like high school again wasn’t much to get out and do on campus, I feel as if they should have more activities and opportunities for the students. I would love to go back but with the financial office I can’t!

Michelle

Shaw University is a very important University and it is a good HBCU in the south and around the state of North Carolina. The teachers and the academic advisor are the best people in the school and they are there to help to help students who are in need of help. Shaw University is epic and they accept students all over the world.

keila

Shaw University is a baptist based campus and is also a campus open to the public. Many of the students at Shaw are involved in either sports or have no involvement at all. Most students have either a job or in work study to help them through college. The housing on campus is alright, there are lower classmen dorms and upperclassmen dorms. Dorms can sometimes be either hot or cold and the bathrooms are a community. The food on campus is not always the best but the luckily we are centered in the middle of downtown so there is always something new to try or somewhere new to go. While being a current college student, most struggles in college come from procrastination and lacking sleep sometimes trying to make up work. The campus can sometimes be a great place to be and other times the campus is boring and nobody might be here. A lot of in-state students go here and many different cultures are involved​ around campus. Shaw campus is like a hit or miss sometimes.

Shaw University FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at Shaw University?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Shaw University is 48%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    Stay focused, and calm and collected its just another walkthrough of accomplishing your dreams.

    Read all  67 answers
  3. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    I wish I had known the living conditions before I went Shaw University. The are bats in the ceilings, dirt and grime in the bathrooms, and alot of dust in the ventilation systems. I was a part of the protest that made the media. I will be transferring from Shaw University in the spring semester.

    Read all  19 answers
  4. Describe the students at your school.

    Very friendly, very diverse but have many issues personally and some can find themselves very childish

    Read all  17 answers
  5. What kind of person should attend this school?

    A strong and motivated individuals should attend shaw university. The reason i say that is because i have never lived this way in my life until i came ot college and that i not a good thing at all.

    Read all  16 answers
  6. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    The worst thing about my school was not enough parking space and school was not big enough for the number of students attending school.

    Read all  14 answers
  7. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    My school is a family; a family that has no money right now and is living in a terrible house with okay food and theives as parents.

    Read all  12 answers
  8. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    I brag about how compassonate and caring my professor are at my school and how they only expect the students to strive for exellence and I also brag about how diverse and unity my school is and how the students and professor are like a family who prays together and pray together. I brag about how I feel connected to the students and the professors and how they really care and really wants everyone to do the best that they can.

    Read all  10 answers
  9. What's unique about your campus?

    I consider the unity and compassionate that the faculty show toward the student as the best thing about my school; and also the motivation and willingness to help students so tha they can achieve their career goal is a plus for my school as well.

    Read all  9 answers
  10. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    tradition and having pride in one another.

    Read all  8 answers
  11. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    I believe the type of person that shouldn't attend this university is the kind of person that don't want an education. This university is on the move and is about graduating students who wants to learn and progress in the professional world, and for somebody who don't want an education, they would just be wasting their time and money.

    Read all  8 answers
  12. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    The people

    Read all  5 answers
  13. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    Unorganized

    Read all  5 answers
  14. What are the academics like at your school?

    My professors know my name because the classes are so small. The largest I've seen is about 30 students. Some students do go to the library to study but you'll always see someone just randomly browsing the web or being loud. My favorite class so far is English Composition. It has challenged me to think about what I'm writing much more so than I have before. The class I hate the most is my math class. The professor doesn't really elaborate on things and he's very hard to understand at times.

    Read all  2 answers
  15. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    FOOTBALL

    Read all  1 answers
  16. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    N/A

    Read all  1 answers

Student Body

Students

57%

female

43%

male

1,713

Total Undergrad Enrollment

131

Total Grad Students

34%

Out-Of-State

64%

In-State

2%

International

Organizations

N/A

Student Organizations

4

Fraternities

4

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

46%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
N/A
% Black or African-American
66%
% Hispanic/Latino
N/A
% White or Caucasian
1%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

98% of students attending Shaw University receive some sort of financial aid. 89% were awarded federal grants. While 91% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$16,480

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,300

Books and Supplies

$8,158

Room and Board

25,938

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$17,395
$30 - $48K
$18,507
$48 - $75K
$21,204
$75 - $110K
$24,271
$110K & UP
$24,824

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

FIND SCHOLARSHIPS

Find your perfect match from over 3 million scholarships!

START YOUR SEARCH

CAN YOU GET INTO Shaw University?

Complete your profile to see if this school is a fit for you, and what your chances of admitance are.

START YOUR SEARCH