College of the Atlantic vs. Shaw University

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

College of the Atlantic Shaw University
Location Bar Harbor, ME Raleigh, NC
Setting Rural Fringe Large City
Enrollment 380 1,067
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website coa.edu shawu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

College of the Atlantic Shaw University
Tuition (In State) $44,280 $11,808
Tuition (Out of State) $44,280 $11,808
Room & Board $9,870 $8,514
Avg Net Price $22,316 $14,204
Avg Grant Aid $32,602 $15,548
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 87%

Admission

College of the Atlantic Shaw University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 486 2,435
Admitted 292 1,486
Acceptance Rate 60.1% 61%
Enrolled % 32.9% 13.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 2.6
Typical High School Grades B+ C+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low 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 Feb 1, 2025 Jul 30, 2025

Academics

College of the Atlantic Shaw University
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • General Studies (100%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

College of the Atlantic Shaw University
Graduation Rate 71% 27%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $28,200 $29,000
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 15%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,750 $38,000
Median Loan Payment $204 $392

Diversity

College of the Atlantic Shaw University
% Men 32% 47%
% Women 68% 53%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No Yes
% White 72% 1%
% Black 1% 58%
% Hispanic 4% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 17% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 39%

Students

College of the Atlantic Shaw University
% In-State 4% 55%
% Out-of-State 73% 34%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Shaw University is larger than than College of the Atlantic based on total student enrollment (1,067 students vs. 380 students)

College of the Atlantic vs. Shaw University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Atlantic or Shaw University?

  • College of the Atlantic is 275% more expensive to attend than Shaw University for in-state tuition ($44,280.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 275% higher at College of the Atlantic than Shaw University ($44,280.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than College of the Atlantic ($14,204 vs. $22,316)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 15.9% lower than costs at College of the Atlantic ($8,514 vs. $9,870)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at College of the Atlantic than Shaw University (97% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Atlantic students is 109.7% larger than aid received Shaw University ($32,602 vs. $15,548)

College of the Atlantic vs. Shaw University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman College of the Atlantic students have a 1.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
  • Shaw University has a higher acceptance rate (61%) than College of the Atlantic (60.1%)

College of the Atlantic vs. Shaw University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, College of the Atlantic 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 College of the Atlantic.

  • The graduation rate at College of the Atlantic is higher than Shaw University (71% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Shaw University earn on average $800 more per year than College of the Atlantic graduates after ten years. ($29,000 vs. $28,200)
  • College of the Atlantic students graduate with a $18,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($19,750 vs. $38,000)
  • College of the Atlantic graduates are paying $188 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($204 vs. $392)
  • More College of the Atlantic graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 15%)

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