Iowa Wesleyan College vs. Shaw University

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

 Iowa Wesleyan College Shaw University
Location Mount Pleasant, IA Raleigh, NC
Setting Remote Town Large City
Enrollment 871 1,067
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iwc.edu shawu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Iowa Wesleyan College Shaw University
Tuition (In State) $33,550 $11,808
Tuition (Out of State) $33,550 $11,808
Room & Board $11,340 $8,514
Avg Net Price $20,074 $14,204
Avg Grant Aid $26,670 $15,548
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 87%

Admission

 Iowa Wesleyan College Shaw University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,975 2,435
Admitted 2,404 1,486
Acceptance Rate 80.8% 61%
Enrolled % 8% 13.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.02 2.6
Typical High School Grades B C+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/22
SAT Range 830/1010
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 Aug 15, 2025 Jul 30, 2025

Academics

 Iowa Wesleyan College Shaw University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

 Iowa Wesleyan College Shaw University
Graduation Rate 25% 27%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,900 $29,000
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 15%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $38,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $392

Diversity

 Iowa Wesleyan College Shaw University
% Men 56% 47%
% Women 44% 53%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No Yes
% White 52% 1%
% Black 9% 58%
% Hispanic 6% 0%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 24% 39%

Students

 Iowa Wesleyan College Shaw University
% In-State 25% 55%
% Out-of-State 60% 34%

Campus

 Iowa Wesleyan 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

  • Shaw University is larger than than Iowa Wesleyan College based on total student enrollment (1,067 students vs. 871 students)

Iowa Wesleyan College vs. Shaw University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Wesleyan College or Shaw University?

  • Iowa Wesleyan College is 184.1% more expensive to attend than Shaw University for in-state tuition ($33,550.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 184.1% higher at Iowa Wesleyan College than Shaw University ($33,550.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than Iowa Wesleyan College ($14,204 vs. $20,074)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 33.2% lower than costs at Iowa Wesleyan College ($8,514 vs. $11,340)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Iowa Wesleyan College than Shaw University (92% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa Wesleyan College students is 71.5% larger than aid received Shaw University ($26,670 vs. $15,548)

Iowa Wesleyan College vs. Shaw University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Iowa Wesleyan College students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.02) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
  • Iowa Wesleyan College has a higher acceptance rate (80.8%) than Shaw University (61%)

Iowa Wesleyan College vs. Shaw University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Iowa Wesleyan 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 Iowa Wesleyan College.

  • The graduation rate at Shaw University is higher than Iowa Wesleyan College (27% vs. 25%)
  • Graduates from Iowa Wesleyan College earn on average $7,900 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($36,900 vs. $29,000)
  • Iowa Wesleyan College students graduate with a $13,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($25,000 vs. $38,000)
  • Iowa Wesleyan College graduates are paying $134 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($258 vs. $392)
  • More Iowa Wesleyan College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 15%)

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