Gustavus Adolphus College vs. Shaw University

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

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Gustavus Adolphus College vs. Shaw University comparison
Gustavus Adolphus College Shaw University College 3 College 4
Gustavus Adolphus College Shaw University
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Overview

Gustavus Adolphus College Shaw University
Location Saint Peter, MN Raleigh, NC
Setting Remote Town Large City
Enrollment 1,952 962
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gustavus.edu shawu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Gustavus Adolphus College Shaw University
Tuition (In State) $53,570 $12,408
Tuition (Out of State) $53,570 $12,408
Room & Board $11,290 $8,940
Avg Net Price $28,805 $14,111
Avg Grant Aid $37,193 $15,568
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 97%

Admission

Gustavus Adolphus College Shaw University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,450 10,699
Admitted 2,750 3,261
Acceptance Rate 61.8% 30.5%
Enrolled % 18.1% 5.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 2.6
Typical High School Grades B+ C+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2026 Jul 30, 2026

Academics

Gustavus Adolphus College Shaw University
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Biology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

Gustavus Adolphus College Shaw University
Graduation Rate 82% 27%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,300 $29,000
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 15%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $38,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $392

Diversity

Gustavus Adolphus College Shaw University
% Men 1% 5%
% Women 1% 7%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No Yes
% White 83% 1%
% Black 2% 58%
% Hispanic 4% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 39%

Students

Gustavus Adolphus College Shaw University
% In-State 79% 55%
% Out-of-State 15% 34%

Campus

Gustavus Adolphus 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

  • Gustavus Adolphus College is larger than than Shaw University based on total student enrollment (1,952 students vs. 962 students)

Gustavus Adolphus College vs. Shaw University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gustavus Adolphus College or Shaw University?

  • Gustavus Adolphus College is 331.7% more expensive to attend than Shaw University for in-state tuition ($53,570.00 vs. $12,408.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 331.7% higher at Gustavus Adolphus College than Shaw University ($53,570.00 vs. $12,408.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than Gustavus Adolphus College ($14,111 vs. $28,805)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 26.3% lower than costs at Gustavus Adolphus College ($8,940 vs. $11,290)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Gustavus Adolphus College as Shaw University (97% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gustavus Adolphus College students is 138.9% larger than aid received Shaw University ($37,193 vs. $15,568)

Gustavus Adolphus College vs. Shaw University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Gustavus Adolphus College students have a 1.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
  • Gustavus Adolphus College has a higher acceptance rate (61.8%) than Shaw University (30.5%)

Gustavus Adolphus College vs. Shaw University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Gustavus Adolphus 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 Gustavus Adolphus College.

  • The graduation rate at Gustavus Adolphus College is higher than Shaw University (82% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Gustavus Adolphus College earn on average $27,300 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($56,300 vs. $29,000)
  • Gustavus Adolphus College students graduate with a $11,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($27,000 vs. $38,000)
  • Gustavus Adolphus College graduates are paying $113 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($279 vs. $392)
  • More Gustavus Adolphus College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 15%)

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