Bowie State University vs. Shaw University

Should I go to Bowie State University or Shaw University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bowie State University 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.

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Bowie State University vs. Shaw University comparison
Bowie State University Shaw University College 3 College 4
Bowie State University Shaw University
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Overview

Bowie State University Shaw University
Location Bowie, MD Raleigh, NC
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 6,275 1,067
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #962
Religious Affiliation - Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowiestate.edu shawu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowie State University Shaw University
Tuition (In State) $5,811 $11,808
Tuition (Out of State) $16,533 $11,808
Room & Board $12,468 $8,514
Avg Net Price $13,886 $14,204
Avg Grant Aid $9,463 $15,548
% Receiving Grant Aid 76% 87%

Admission

Bowie State University Shaw University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,445 2,435
Admitted 4,712 1,486
Acceptance Rate 86.5% 61%
Enrolled % 25.2% 13.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 2.6
Typical High School Grades B C+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range 800/1048
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 15, 2025 Jul 30, 2025

Academics

Bowie State University Shaw University
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

Bowie State University Shaw University
Graduation Rate 41% 27%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,500 $29,000
Making Student Loan Payments 29% 15%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,391 $38,000
Median Loan Payment $252 $392

Diversity

Bowie State University Shaw University
% Men 37% 47%
% Women 63% 53%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 3% 1%
% Black 86% 58%
% Hispanic 3% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 0%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 39%

Students

Bowie State University Shaw University
% In-State 78% 55%
% Out-of-State 19% 34%

Campus

Bowie State University 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

  • Bowie State University is larger than than Shaw University based on total student enrollment (6,275 students vs. 1,067 students)

Bowie State University vs. Shaw University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowie State University or Shaw University?

  • Shaw University is 103.2% more expensive to attend than Bowie State University for in-state tuition ($11,808.00 vs. $5,811.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40% higher at Bowie State University than Shaw University ($16,533.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowie State University than Shaw University ($13,886 vs. $14,204)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 46.4% lower than costs at Bowie State University ($8,514 vs. $12,468)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shaw University than Bowie State University (87% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shaw University students is 64.3% larger than aid received Bowie State University ($15,548 vs. $9,463)

Bowie State University vs. Shaw University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Bowie State University students have a 0.52 point higher average high school GPA (3.12) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
  • Bowie State University has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than Shaw University (61%)

Bowie State University vs. Shaw University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bowie State University 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 Bowie State University.

  • The graduation rate at Bowie State University is higher than Shaw University (41% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Bowie State University earn on average $21,500 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($50,500 vs. $29,000)
  • Bowie State University students graduate with a $13,609 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($24,391 vs. $38,000)
  • Bowie State University graduates are paying $140 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($252 vs. $392)
  • More Bowie State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (29% vs. 15%)

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