Shaw University vs. Fairmont State

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

 Shaw University Fairmont State
Location Raleigh, NC Fairmont, WV
Setting Large City Distant Town
Enrollment 1,067 3,498
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #979
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website shawu.edu fairmontstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Shaw University Fairmont State
Tuition (In State) $11,808 $6,022
Tuition (Out of State) $11,808 $15,638
Room & Board $8,514 $10,022
Avg Net Price $14,204 $10,794
Avg Grant Aid $15,548 $6,547
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 94%

Admission

 Shaw University Fairmont State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,435 1,926
Admitted 1,486 1,897
Acceptance Rate 61% 98.5%
Enrolled % 13.5% 37%
Avg High School GPA 2.6 3.36
Typical High School Grades C+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/23
SAT Range 820/1050
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jul 30, 2025

Academics

 Shaw University Fairmont State
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)

Outcomes

 Shaw University Fairmont State
Graduation Rate 27% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $29,000 $37,600
Making Student Loan Payments 15% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $38,000 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $392 $227

Diversity

 Shaw University Fairmont State
% Men 47% 41%
% Women 53% 59%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 1% 86%
% Black 58% 5%
% Hispanic 0% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 39% 1%

Students

 Shaw University Fairmont State
% In-State 55% 88%
% Out-of-State 34% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Fairmont State University is larger than than Shaw University based on total student enrollment (3,498 students vs. 1,067 students)

Shaw University vs. Fairmont State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Shaw University or Fairmont State ?

  • Shaw University is 96.1% more expensive to attend than Fairmont State for in-state tuition ($11,808.00 vs. $6,022.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 32.4% higher at Fairmont State than Shaw University ($15,638.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fairmont State University than Shaw University ($10,794 vs. $14,204)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 17.7% lower than costs at Fairmont State University ($8,514 vs. $10,022)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fairmont State University than Shaw University (94% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shaw University students is 137.5% larger than aid received Fairmont State University ($15,548 vs. $6,547)

Shaw University vs. Fairmont State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Fairmont State students have a 0.76 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
  • Fairmont State has a higher acceptance rate (98.5%) than Shaw University (61%)

Shaw University vs. Fairmont State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Shaw University or Fairmont State ? 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 Fairmont State and Shaw University.

  • The graduation rate at Fairmont State is higher than Shaw University (33% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Fairmont State University earn on average $8,600 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($37,600 vs. $29,000)
  • Fairmont State University students graduate with a $16,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($22,000 vs. $38,000)
  • Fairmont State graduates are paying $165 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($227 vs. $392)
  • More Fairmont State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 15%)

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