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JCSU Eastern University Liberty University North Carolina Central University St. Augustine's College St. Augustine College WSSU Chowan University Messiah College Claflin University Benedict College Livingstone College| Shaw University | Cairn University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Shaw University | Cairn | ||
| Location | Raleigh, NC | Langhorne, PA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 1,067 | 1,031 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | Baptist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | shawu.edu | cairn.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Shaw University | Cairn | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,808 | $31,255 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $11,808 | $31,255 | ||
| Room & Board | $8,514 | $11,764 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,204 | $25,923 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $15,548 | $18,376 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 87% | 96% |
Admission |
Shaw University | Cairn | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,435 | 468 | ||
| Admitted | 1,486 | 379 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 61% | 81% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.5% | 53.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 2.6 | 3.31 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | C+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| 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 | Cairn | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Shaw University | Cairn | ||
| Graduation Rate | 27% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $29,000 | $37,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 15% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $38,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $392 | $279 |
Diversity |
Shaw University | Cairn | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 47% | 47% | ||
| % Women | 53% | 53% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | Yes | No | ||
| % White | 1% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 58% | 14% | ||
| % Hispanic | 0% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 2% | ||
| % International | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 39% | 0% |
Students |
Shaw University | Cairn | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 55% | 60% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 34% | 36% | ||
Campus |
Shaw University | Cairn | ||
| 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
- Shaw University is larger than than Cairn based on total student enrollment (1,067 students vs. 1,031 students)
Shaw University vs. Cairn Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Shaw University or Cairn?
- Cairn University is 164.7% more expensive to attend than Shaw University for in-state tuition ($31,255.00 vs. $11,808.00)
- Out of state tuition is 164.7% higher at Cairn than Shaw University ($31,255.00 vs. $11,808.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than Cairn ($14,204 vs. $25,923)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 38.2% lower than costs at Cairn University ($8,514 vs. $11,764)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Cairn University than Shaw University (96% vs. 87%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Cairn University students is 18.2% larger than aid received Shaw University ($18,376 vs. $15,548)
Shaw University vs. Cairn Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Shaw University or Cairn? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Cairn or Shaw University .
- Accepted freshman Cairn students have a 0.71 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
- Cairn has a higher acceptance rate (81%) than Shaw University (61%)
Shaw University vs. Cairn Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Shaw University or Cairn? 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 Cairn and Shaw University.
- The graduation rate at Cairn is higher than Shaw University (63% vs. 27%)
- Graduates from Cairn University earn on average $8,000 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($37,000 vs. $29,000)
- Cairn University students graduate with a $11,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($27,000 vs. $38,000)
- Cairn graduates are paying $113 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($279 vs. $392)
- More Cairn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 15%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/