Alma College vs. Shaw University

Should I go to Alma College or Shaw University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Alma College or Shaw University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Alma College vs. Shaw University comparison
Alma College Shaw University College 3 College 4
Alma College Shaw University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Alma College Shaw University
Location Alma, MI Raleigh, NC
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 1,273 962
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website alma.edu shawu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alma College Shaw University
Tuition (In State) $47,160 $12,408
Tuition (Out of State) $47,160 $12,408
Room & Board $13,128 $8,940
Avg Net Price $24,862 $14,111
Avg Grant Aid $36,447 $15,568
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 97%

Admission

Alma College Shaw University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,975 10,699
Admitted 2,610 3,261
Acceptance Rate 65.7% 30.5%
Enrolled % 13.3% 5.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 2.6
Typical High School Grades B+ C+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 30, 2026

Academics

Alma College Shaw University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

Alma College Shaw University
Graduation Rate 67% 27%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,300 $29,000
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 15%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $38,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $392

Diversity

Alma College Shaw University
% Men 1% 5%
% Women 2% 7%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No Yes
% White 83% 1%
% Black 4% 58%
% Hispanic 4% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 39%

Students

Alma College Shaw University
% In-State 90% 55%
% Out-of-State 6% 34%

Campus

Alma College Shaw University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Alma College is larger than than Shaw University based on total student enrollment (1,273 students vs. 962 students)

Alma College vs. Shaw University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alma College or Shaw University?

  • Alma College is 280.1% more expensive to attend than Shaw University for in-state tuition ($47,160.00 vs. $12,408.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 280.1% higher at Alma College than Shaw University ($47,160.00 vs. $12,408.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than Alma College ($14,111 vs. $24,862)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 46.8% lower than costs at Alma College ($8,940 vs. $13,128)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Alma College than Shaw University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alma College students is 134.1% larger than aid received Shaw University ($36,447 vs. $15,568)

Alma College vs. Shaw University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alma College or Shaw University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Shaw University or Alma College .

  • Accepted freshman Alma College students have a 0.9 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
  • Alma College has a higher acceptance rate (65.7%) than Shaw University (30.5%)

Alma College vs. Shaw University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Alma College or Shaw University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Shaw University and Alma College.

  • The graduation rate at Alma College is higher than Shaw University (67% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Alma College earn on average $19,300 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($48,300 vs. $29,000)
  • Alma College students graduate with a $11,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($27,000 vs. $38,000)
  • Alma College graduates are paying $113 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($279 vs. $392)
  • More Alma College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 15%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/