Shaw University vs. Bethany College

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

Shaw University Bethany College
Location Raleigh, NC Bethany, WV
Setting Large City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 1,067 623
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Baptist Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website shawu.edu bethanywv.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Shaw University Bethany College
Tuition (In State) $11,808 $30,720
Tuition (Out of State) $11,808 $30,720
Room & Board $8,514 $11,900
Avg Net Price $14,204 $17,605
Avg Grant Aid $15,548 $30,005
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 100%

Admission

Shaw University Bethany College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,435 2,651
Admitted 1,486 1,721
Acceptance Rate 61% 64.9%
Enrolled % 13.5% 10.2%
Avg High School GPA 2.6 2.85
Typical High School Grades C+ B-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 18/26
SAT Range 870/1110
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 Jul 30, 2025

Academics

Shaw University Bethany College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Human Services (8%)

Outcomes

Shaw University Bethany College
Graduation Rate 27% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $29,000 $44,000
Making Student Loan Payments 15% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $38,000 $30,884
Median Loan Payment $392 $319

Diversity

Shaw University Bethany College
% Men 47% 56%
% Women 53% 44%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU Yes No
% White 1% 51%
% Black 58% 18%
% Hispanic 0% 5%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 39% 20%

Students

Shaw University Bethany College
% In-State 55% 22%
% Out-of-State 34% 68%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Shaw University is larger than than Bethany College based on total student enrollment (1,067 students vs. 623 students)

Shaw University vs. Bethany College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Shaw University or Bethany College?

  • Bethany College is 160.2% more expensive to attend than Shaw University for in-state tuition ($30,720.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 160.2% higher at Bethany College than Shaw University ($30,720.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than Bethany College ($14,204 vs. $17,605)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 39.8% lower than costs at Bethany College ($8,514 vs. $11,900)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bethany College than Shaw University (100% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethany College students is 93% larger than aid received Shaw University ($30,005 vs. $15,548)

Shaw University vs. Bethany College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Bethany College students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (2.85) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
  • Bethany College has a higher acceptance rate (64.9%) than Shaw University (61%)

Shaw University vs. Bethany College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Shaw University or Bethany College? 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 Bethany College and Shaw University.

  • The graduation rate at Bethany College is higher than Shaw University (48% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Bethany College earn on average $15,000 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($44,000 vs. $29,000)
  • Bethany College students graduate with a $7,116 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($30,884 vs. $38,000)
  • Bethany College graduates are paying $73 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($319 vs. $392)
  • More Bethany College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 15%)

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