Shaw University Admissions: Costs, Admit Rate & More

Shaw University Admissions Overview:

Along with an application, prospective students applying to Shaw University will need to submit high school transcripts and three letters of recommendation. Students are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores. Around half of applicants are admitted each year; students with solid grades have a good chance of getting into the school. If you have any questions, be sure to contact the admissions office at Shaw.

Admissions Data (2016):

Shaw University Acceptance Rate: 49%
Shaw University has test-optional admissions
Test Scores -- 25th / 75th Percentile
- SAT Critical Reading: - / -
- SAT Math: - / -
- SAT Writing: - / -
  - What's a good SAT score?
- ACT Composite: - / -
- ACT English: - / -
- ACT Math: - / -
  - What's a good ACT score?

Shaw University Description:

Shaw University is a four-year, private, historically black, Baptist university. Shaw has a rich history: founded in 1865, it is the oldest historically black university in the South; it was the first four-year medical school for African-Americans; and it is home to the first building in the United States that was built to educate African-American women. The university is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, roughly 260 miles from Washington, D.C. and 140 miles from Charlotte. North Carolina State University, Meredith College, and Saint Augustine's University are all within a few miles of campus. Shaw University students can choose from about 30 undergraduate degree programs with business and social work being the most popular. Academics are supported by a student / faculty ratio of 15 to 1. Students stay active outside of the classroom through participation in a wide range of clubs and organizations including a debate team, marching band, and fraternity and sorority system. On the athletic front, the Shaw University Bears compete in the NCAA Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) with sports including men’s and women’s tennis, cross country, and basketball. Shaw's teams for baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, bowling, men’s and women’s cross country, football, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, and volleyball have all won championships.

Enrollment (2016):

Total Enrollment: 1,844 (1,713 undergraduates)
Gender Breakdown: 43% Male / 57% Female
94% Full-time

Costs (2016 - 17):

Tuition and Fees: $16,580
Books: $1,300 (why so much?)
Room and Board: $8,158
Other Expenses: $3,440
Total Cost: $29,478

Shaw University Financial Aid (2015 - 16):

Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 98%
Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
- Grants: 98%
- Loans: 91%
Average Amount of Aid
- Grants: $11,074
- Loans: $7,036

Academic Programs:

Most Popular Majors: Biology, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology

Graduation and Retention Rates:

First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 48%
4-Year Graduation Rate: 8%
6-Year Graduation Rate: 19%

Intercollegiate Athletic Programs:

Men's Sports: Basketball, Football, Tennis, Cross Country
Women's Sports: Bowling, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball, Basketball, Cross Country, Track and Field