PSC vs. Shaw University

Should I go to Philander Smith College or Shaw University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if PSC 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

JCSU North Carolina Central University St. Augustine's College St. Augustine College WSSU Chowan University Claflin University Benedict College Livingstone College NCAT UAPB
Philander Smith College vs. Shaw University comparison
Philander Smith College Shaw University College 3 College 4
Philander Smith College Shaw University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 PSC Shaw University
Location Little Rock, AR Raleigh, NC
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 769 1,067
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website philander.edu shawu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 PSC Shaw University
Tuition (In State) $11,804 $11,808
Tuition (Out of State) $11,804 $11,808
Room & Board $8,250 $8,514
Avg Net Price $15,634 $14,204
Avg Grant Aid $10,317 $15,548
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 87%

Admission

 PSC Shaw University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 2,435
Admitted - 1,486
Acceptance Rate 61%
Enrolled % 13.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.04 2.6
Typical High School Grades B C+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 30, 2025

Academics

 PSC Shaw University
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (30%)
  • Social Sciences (18%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

 PSC Shaw University
Graduation Rate 31% 27%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $26,800 $29,000
Making Student Loan Payments 35% 15%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $38,000
Median Loan Payment $320 $392

Diversity

 PSC Shaw University
% Men 41% 47%
% Women 59% 53%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low High
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 0% 1%
% Black 91% 58%
% Hispanic 1% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 5% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 39%

Students

 PSC Shaw University
% In-State 58% 55%
% Out-of-State 33% 34%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Shaw University is larger than than PSC based on total student enrollment (1,067 students vs. 769 students)

PSC vs. Shaw University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PSC or Shaw University?

  • Shaw University is 0% more expensive to attend than PSC for in-state tuition ($11,808.00 vs. $11,804.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0% higher at Shaw University than Philander Smith College ($11,808.00 vs. $11,804.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than PSC ($14,204 vs. $15,634)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Philander Smith College are 3.2% lower than costs at Shaw University ($8,250 vs. $8,514)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shaw University than Philander Smith College (87% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shaw University students is 50.7% larger than aid received Philander Smith College ($15,548 vs. $10,317)

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

  • Accepted freshman PSC students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.04) than students at Shaw University (2.6)

PSC vs. Shaw University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PSC 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 PSC.

  • The graduation rate at PSC is higher than Shaw University (31% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Shaw University earn on average $2,200 more per year than PSC graduates after ten years. ($29,000 vs. $26,800)
  • Philander Smith College students graduate with a $7,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($31,000 vs. $38,000)
  • PSC graduates are paying $72 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($320 vs. $392)
  • More PSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 15%)

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