Catholic University of America vs. Shaw University

Should I go to Catholic University of America or Shaw University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Catholic University of America 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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Catholic University of America vs. Shaw University comparison
Catholic University of America Shaw University College 3 College 4
Catholic University of America Shaw University
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Overview

Catholic University of America Shaw University
Location Washington, DC Raleigh, NC
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 4,968 1,067
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cua.edu shawu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Catholic University of America Shaw University
Tuition (In State) $53,040 $11,808
Tuition (Out of State) $53,040 $11,808
Room & Board $16,670 $8,514
Avg Net Price $36,031 $14,204
Avg Grant Aid $34,449 $15,548
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 87%

Admission

Catholic University of America Shaw University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,801 2,435
Admitted 4,965 1,486
Acceptance Rate 85.6% 61%
Enrolled % 15.4% 13.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 2.6
Typical High School Grades B+ C+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Jul 30, 2025

Academics

Catholic University of America Shaw University
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Architecture (11%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

Catholic University of America Shaw University
Graduation Rate 68% 27%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,600 $29,000
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 15%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,106 $38,000
Median Loan Payment $269 $392

Diversity

Catholic University of America Shaw University
% Men 46% 47%
% Women 54% 53%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No Yes
% White 64% 1%
% Black 5% 58%
% Hispanic 13% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 0%
% International 5% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 39%

Students

Catholic University of America Shaw University
% In-State 5% 55%
% Out-of-State 87% 34%

Campus

Catholic University of America 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

  • Catholic University of America is larger than than Shaw University based on total student enrollment (4,968 students vs. 1,067 students)

Catholic University of America vs. Shaw University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catholic University of America or Shaw University?

  • Catholic University of America is 349.2% more expensive to attend than Shaw University for in-state tuition ($53,040.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 349.2% higher at Catholic University of America than Shaw University ($53,040.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than Catholic University of America ($14,204 vs. $36,031)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 95.8% lower than costs at Catholic University of America ($8,514 vs. $16,670)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Catholic University of America than Shaw University (98% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catholic University of America students is 121.6% larger than aid received Shaw University ($34,449 vs. $15,548)

Catholic University of America vs. Shaw University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Catholic University of America students have a 0.92 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
  • Catholic University of America has a higher acceptance rate (85.6%) than Shaw University (61%)

Catholic University of America vs. Shaw University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Catholic University of America 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 Catholic University of America.

  • The graduation rate at Catholic University of America is higher than Shaw University (68% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Catholic University of America earn on average $29,600 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($58,600 vs. $29,000)
  • Catholic University of America students graduate with a $11,894 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($26,106 vs. $38,000)
  • Catholic University of America graduates are paying $123 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($269 vs. $392)
  • More Catholic University of America 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/