Shaw University
#5 Best Colleges for Cross-Class Networks- Graduation Rate
- 21% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $34,409 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $16,512 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 80% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 15.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.1 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Colleges for Cross-Class Networks.
Every $1 spent returns $15.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $928,099.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 21% — 63% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 2.87% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $15.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Shaw University Matters
Shaw University is a private college in Raleigh, NC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 875
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HBCU · 54
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, Psychology, Social Sciences
Why students choose Shaw University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 80% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $16,512 a year after grants and scholarships — 4% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $34,409 ten years after enrolling — 16% below the typical college, against $32,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 12% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.06 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of 80%, Shaw University is designed for students who may benefit from a supportive environment where they can explore their interests in fields like Business and Marketing, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Communications, and Computer Science. The smaller enrollment of 875 allows for more personalized attention, making it a fit for those who thrive in intimate learning settings. Students here often appreciate the chance to engage closely with faculty and peers, fostering a sense of community.
Looking at life after graduation, students can expect to earn around $34,409 within ten years of completing their studies. This figure gives a glimpse into the potential return on investment, especially when considering the affordability of education here. Many students benefit from financial aid, with 66% receiving Pell Grants. This support can be crucial for those looking to advance their careers without being burdened by overwhelming debt.
In terms of the financial bottom line, the average net price after aid stands at $16,512, which is manageable compared to the median debt of $32,500 that graduates take on. This suggests that while some financial challenges exist, many students who choose Shaw University are often those who value a close-knit community and support in navigating their academic journey. They tend to be resilient, ready to engage with their studies and invest in their future.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Shaw University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Shaw University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Shaw University, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 80%. The graduation rate is roughly 21%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Retention Rate
- 52%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 57%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,041
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.47
- First-Gen Students
- 40%
- Applicants
- 2,435
- Admitted
- 1,486
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Shaw University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Shaw University is $17,538, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $16,512. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,236 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $32,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $17,538
- Out-of-State
- $17,538
- Avg Net Price
- $16,512
- Median Debt
- $32,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 66%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 71%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $16,236
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $16,276
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $21,145
- Family Income $110K+
- $24,966
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Shaw University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Shaw University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Shaw University report median earnings of $34,409, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $26,148
- 8 Years
- $31,522
- 10 Years
- $34,409
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.94x
- Earning > $25K
- 40%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (39)
- 8%
- 100% (39)
- 8%
- 100% (39)
- 8%
- 100% (39)
- 8%
How Shaw Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Shaw University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Shaw University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $16,512/year ($66,048 total). Graduates earn $34,409 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $994,147 in total earnings — a net gain of $928,099 (15.1× your investment). The median debt is $32,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 21% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $66,048
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $994,147
- Net Return
- $928,099
- ROI Multiple
- 15.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $16,512
- Median Debt
- $32,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 21%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Shaw University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Shaw University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.87%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 30.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $37,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.87%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 9.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 30.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $51,357
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $1,214,835
Top Programs
The fields Shaw University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 31%
- Computer Science & IT 10%
- Psychology 7%
- Social Sciences 7%
- Criminal Justice 7%
- Biology & Biomedical 4%
- Communications 4%
- Education 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Shaw University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Shaw University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Shaw University, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 80%. The graduation rate is roughly 21%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Shaw University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Shaw University is $17,538, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $16,512. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,236 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $32,500 in federal student loans.
Is Shaw University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Shaw University report median earnings of $34,409, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Shaw University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Shaw University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.87%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 30.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $37,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Shaw University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Shaw University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.06, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.11), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Shaw University.
- Southern University at New OrleansNew Orleans, LA · Close peer16% grad $34,042 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Edward Waters UniversityJacksonville, FL · Close peer28% grad $34,782 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim LubavitzBrooklyn, NY · Close peer4% grad $35,023 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Talladega CollegeTalladega, AL · Close peer43% grad $32,229 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Tougaloo CollegeTougaloo, MS · Close peer33% grad $34,724 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Livingstone CollegeSalisbury, NC · Close peer26% grad $32,600 earn 59% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Shaw University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Shaw University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.06, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.11), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note