Shaw University vs. Centra College

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

Shaw University Centra College
Location Raleigh, NC Lynchburg, VA
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 1,067 227
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website shawu.edu centrahealth.com
Team Colors                    

Costs

Shaw University Centra College
Tuition (In State) $11,808 $9,240
Tuition (Out of State) $11,808 $9,240
Room & Board $8,514 $9,406
Avg Net Price $14,204 $28,418
Avg Grant Aid $15,548 $6,495
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 100%

Admission

Shaw University Centra College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,435 15
Admitted 1,486 6
Acceptance Rate 61% 40%
Enrolled % 13.5% 50%
Avg High School GPA 2.6 -
Typical High School Grades C+ -
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 30, 2025

Academics

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

Outcomes

Shaw University Centra College
Graduation Rate 27% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $29,000 $44,800
Making Student Loan Payments 15% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $38,000 $12,042
Median Loan Payment $392 $124

Diversity

Shaw University Centra College
% Men 47% 13%
% Women 53% 87%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 1% 65%
% Black 58% 35%
% Hispanic 0% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 0%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 39% 0%

Students

Shaw University Centra College
% In-State 55% 100%
% Out-of-State 34% 0%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Shaw University is larger than than Centra College based on total student enrollment (1,067 students vs. 227 students)

Shaw University vs. Centra College Cost Comparison

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

  • Shaw University is 27.8% more expensive to attend than Centra College for in-state tuition ($11,808.00 vs. $9,240.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 27.8% higher at Shaw University than Centra College ($11,808.00 vs. $9,240.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than Centra College ($14,204 vs. $28,418)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 10.5% lower than costs at Centra College ($8,514 vs. $9,406)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Centra College than Shaw University (100% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shaw University students is 139.4% larger than aid received Centra College ($15,548 vs. $6,495)

Shaw University vs. Centra College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Shaw University has a higher acceptance rate (61%) than Centra College (40%)

Shaw University vs. Centra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Graduates from Centra College earn on average $15,800 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $29,000)
  • Centra College students graduate with a $25,958 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($12,042 vs. $38,000)
  • Centra College graduates are paying $268 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($124 vs. $392)
  • More Centra College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 15%)

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