Colby-Sawyer vs. Shaw University

Comparable Facts

Compare Colby Sawyer College in New London, NH with Shaw University in Raleigh, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Colby Sawyer College is larger than Shaw University based on total student enrollment (972 students vs. 964 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Colby Sawyer College is located in New London, NH (Distant Rural setting); Shaw University is in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting).
• Colby Sawyer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Shaw University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Colby Sawyer College 10:1; Shaw University 14:1.

Colby-Sawyer vs. Shaw University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colby-Sawyer or Shaw University? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than Colby-Sawyer ($16,445 vs. $27,496).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 47% lower than at Colby Sawyer College ($9,210 vs. $17,364).
• Colby Sawyer College is 9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Shaw University (about $1,587 more per year; $19,125.00 vs. $17,538.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9% higher at Colby-Sawyer than at Shaw University (about $1,587 more per year; $19,125.00 vs. $17,538.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Colby Sawyer College than at Shaw University (100% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Shaw University students is 29.9% larger than aid received by Colby Sawyer College students ($14,417 vs. $11,098).

Colby-Sawyer vs. Shaw University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colby-Sawyer or Shaw University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Shaw University and Colby-Sawyer.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colby-Sawyer - Test-free; Shaw University - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Shaw University Jul 30, 2027.
• Shaw University has a higher acceptance rate (80.2%) than Colby-Sawyer (80.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13% at Colby-Sawyer vs. 4.1% at Shaw University.

Colby-Sawyer vs. Shaw University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colby-Sawyer and Shaw University? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Colby Sawyer College's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than Shaw University's (27%).
• Graduates from Colby Sawyer College earn a median of about $15,900 more per year than Shaw University graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,900 vs. $29,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Colby Sawyer College graduates have a $11,000 lower median loan debt than Shaw University graduates ($27,000 vs. $38,000).
• Among borrowers, Colby-Sawyer graduates have an estimated $113 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Shaw University graduates ($279 vs. $392).
• More Colby-Sawyer 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.