Shaw University vs. Bluefield State College

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

Shaw University Bluefield State College
Location Raleigh, NC Bluefield, WV
Setting Large City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 1,067 1,306
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #986
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website shawu.edu bluefieldstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Shaw University Bluefield State College
Tuition (In State) $11,808 $8,840
Tuition (Out of State) $11,808 $16,030
Room & Board $8,514 $10,200
Avg Net Price $14,204 $11,759
Avg Grant Aid $15,548 $10,160
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 96%

Admission

Shaw University Bluefield State College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,435 813
Admitted 1,486 790
Acceptance Rate 61% 97.2%
Enrolled % 13.5% 33.4%
Avg High School GPA 2.6 3.41
Typical High School Grades C+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/22
SAT Range 870/1080
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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Shaw University Bluefield State College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (29%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Engineering Technology (16%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Education (9%)

Outcomes

Shaw University Bluefield State College
Graduation Rate 27% 22%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $29,000 $31,800
Making Student Loan Payments 15% 30%
Median Student Loan Debt $38,000 $19,000
Median Loan Payment $392 $196

Diversity

Shaw University Bluefield State College
% Men 47% 40%
% Women 53% 60%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 1% 85%
% Black 58% 9%
% Hispanic 0% 1%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 1%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 39% 1%

Students

Shaw University Bluefield State College
% In-State 55% 54%
% Out-of-State 34% 46%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Bluefield State College is larger than than Shaw University based on total student enrollment (1,306 students vs. 1,067 students)

Shaw University vs. Bluefield State College Cost Comparison

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

  • Shaw University is 33.6% more expensive to attend than Bluefield State College for in-state tuition ($11,808.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 35.8% higher at Bluefield State College than Shaw University ($16,030.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bluefield State College than Shaw University ($11,759 vs. $14,204)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 19.8% lower than costs at Bluefield State College ($8,514 vs. $10,200)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bluefield State College than Shaw University (96% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shaw University students is 53% larger than aid received Bluefield State College ($15,548 vs. $10,160)

Shaw University vs. Bluefield State College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Bluefield State College students have a 0.81 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
  • Bluefield State College has a higher acceptance rate (97.2%) than Shaw University (61%)

Shaw University vs. Bluefield State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Shaw University is higher than Bluefield State College (27% vs. 22%)
  • Graduates from Bluefield State College earn on average $2,800 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($31,800 vs. $29,000)
  • Bluefield State College students graduate with a $19,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($19,000 vs. $38,000)
  • Bluefield State College graduates are paying $196 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($196 vs. $392)
  • More Bluefield State College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (30% vs. 15%)

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