Shaw University vs. Bluefield College

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

 Shaw University Bluefield College
Location Raleigh, NC Bluefield, VA
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 962 989
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Baptist Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website shawu.edu bluefield.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Shaw University Bluefield College
Tuition (In State) $12,408 $27,876
Tuition (Out of State) $12,408 $27,876
Room & Board $8,940 $9,814
Avg Net Price $14,111 $22,191
Avg Grant Aid $15,568 $19,288
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 99%

Admission

 Shaw University Bluefield College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,699 1,057
Admitted 3,261 663
Acceptance Rate 30.5% 62.7%
Enrolled % 5.7% 27.1%
Avg High School GPA 2.6 3.31
Typical High School Grades C+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition High Low
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 30, 2026

Academics

 Shaw University Bluefield College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Business (42%)
  • Psychology (21%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (17%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • General Studies (4%)

Outcomes

 Shaw University Bluefield College
Graduation Rate 27% 36%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $29,000 $45,700
Making Student Loan Payments 15% 51%
Median Student Loan Debt $38,000 $20,834
Median Loan Payment $392 $215

Diversity

 Shaw University Bluefield College
% Men 5% 9%
% Women 7% 21%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 1% 65%
% Black 58% 22%
% Hispanic 0% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 39% 3%

Students

 Shaw University Bluefield College
% In-State 55% 66%
% Out-of-State 34% 33%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bluefield College is larger than than Shaw University based on total student enrollment (989 students vs. 962 students)

Shaw University vs. Bluefield College Cost Comparison

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

  • Bluefield College is 124.7% more expensive to attend than Shaw University for in-state tuition ($27,876.00 vs. $12,408.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 124.7% higher at Bluefield College than Shaw University ($27,876.00 vs. $12,408.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than Bluefield College ($14,111 vs. $22,191)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 9.8% lower than costs at Bluefield College ($8,940 vs. $9,814)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bluefield College than Shaw University (99% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bluefield College students is 23.9% larger than aid received Shaw University ($19,288 vs. $15,568)

Shaw University vs. Bluefield College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Bluefield College students have a 0.71 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
  • Bluefield College has a higher acceptance rate (62.7%) than Shaw University (30.5%)

Shaw University vs. Bluefield College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Shaw University or Bluefield 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 Bluefield College and Shaw University.

  • The graduation rate at Bluefield College is higher than Shaw University (36% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Bluefield College earn on average $16,700 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($45,700 vs. $29,000)
  • Bluefield College students graduate with a $17,166 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($20,834 vs. $38,000)
  • Bluefield College graduates are paying $177 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($215 vs. $392)
  • More Bluefield College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 15%)

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