North Carolina Central University vs. Shaw University

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

North Carolina Central University Shaw University
Location Durham, NC Raleigh, NC
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 7,965 962
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #982
Religious Affiliation - Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nccu.edu shawu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

North Carolina Central University Shaw University
Tuition (In State) $3,728 $12,408
Tuition (Out of State) $16,764 $12,408
Room & Board $14,760 $8,940
Avg Net Price $13,884 $14,111
Avg Grant Aid $12,449 $15,568
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 97%

Admission

North Carolina Central University Shaw University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,192 10,699
Admitted 12,842 3,261
Acceptance Rate 90.5% 30.5%
Enrolled % 11.4% 5.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.27 2.6
Typical High School Grades B C+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 17/18
SAT Range 980/1100
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026 Jul 30, 2026

Academics

North Carolina Central University Shaw University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

North Carolina Central University Shaw University
Graduation Rate 38% 27%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,200 $29,000
Making Student Loan Payments 23% 15%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $38,000
Median Loan Payment $320 $392

Diversity

North Carolina Central University Shaw University
% Men 7% 5%
% Women 18% 7%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 6% 1%
% Black 81% 58%
% Hispanic 4% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 0%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 39%

Students

North Carolina Central University Shaw University
% In-State 75% 55%
% Out-of-State 24% 34%

Campus

North Carolina Central University Shaw University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • North Carolina Central University is larger than than Shaw University based on total student enrollment (7,965 students vs. 962 students)

North Carolina Central University vs. Shaw University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, North Carolina Central University or Shaw University?

  • Shaw University is 232.8% more expensive to attend than North Carolina Central University for in-state tuition ($12,408.00 vs. $3,728.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 35.1% higher at North Carolina Central University than Shaw University ($16,764.00 vs. $12,408.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Carolina Central University than Shaw University ($13,884 vs. $14,111)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 65.1% lower than costs at North Carolina Central University ($8,940 vs. $14,760)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shaw University than North Carolina Central University (97% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shaw University students is 25.1% larger than aid received North Carolina Central University ($15,568 vs. $12,449)

North Carolina Central University vs. Shaw University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman North Carolina Central University students have a 0.67 point higher average high school GPA (3.27) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
  • North Carolina Central University has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than Shaw University (30.5%)

North Carolina Central University vs. Shaw University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, North Carolina Central University 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 North Carolina Central University.

  • The graduation rate at North Carolina Central University is higher than Shaw University (38% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from North Carolina Central University earn on average $6,200 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($35,200 vs. $29,000)
  • North Carolina Central University students graduate with a $7,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($31,000 vs. $38,000)
  • North Carolina Central University graduates are paying $72 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($320 vs. $392)
  • More North Carolina Central University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (23% vs. 15%)

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