Shaw University vs. Ferrum College

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

Shaw University Ferrum College
Location Raleigh, NC Ferrum, VA
Setting Large City Distant Rural
Enrollment 962 767
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Baptist United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website shawu.edu ferrum.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Shaw University Ferrum College
Tuition (In State) $12,408 $37,400
Tuition (Out of State) $12,408 $37,400
Room & Board $8,940 $13,230
Avg Net Price $14,111 $22,521
Avg Grant Aid $15,568 $32,061
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 100%

Admission

Shaw University Ferrum College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,699 1,483
Admitted 3,261 1,483
Acceptance Rate 30.5% 100%
Enrolled % 5.7% 16.3%
Avg High School GPA 2.6 3.14
Typical High School Grades C+ B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range
SAT Range 880/1100
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 30, 2026 Sep 15, 2025

Academics

Shaw University Ferrum College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Shaw University Ferrum College
Graduation Rate 27% 31%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $29,000 $39,000
Making Student Loan Payments 15% 49%
Median Student Loan Debt $38,000 $28,000
Median Loan Payment $392 $289

Diversity

Shaw University Ferrum College
% Men 5% 1%
% Women 7% 1%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU Yes No
% White 1% 52%
% Black 58% 34%
% Hispanic 0% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 6%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 39% 1%

Students

Shaw University Ferrum College
% In-State 55% 68%
% Out-of-State 34% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Shaw University is larger than than Ferrum College based on total student enrollment (962 students vs. 767 students)

Shaw University vs. Ferrum College Cost Comparison

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

  • Ferrum College is 201.4% more expensive to attend than Shaw University for in-state tuition ($37,400.00 vs. $12,408.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 201.4% higher at Ferrum College than Shaw University ($37,400.00 vs. $12,408.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than Ferrum College ($14,111 vs. $22,521)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 48% lower than costs at Ferrum College ($8,940 vs. $13,230)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ferrum College than Shaw University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ferrum College students is 105.9% larger than aid received Shaw University ($32,061 vs. $15,568)

Shaw University vs. Ferrum College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Ferrum College students have a 0.54 point higher average high school GPA (3.14) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
  • Ferrum College has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than Shaw University (30.5%)

Shaw University vs. Ferrum College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Ferrum College is higher than Shaw University (31% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Ferrum College earn on average $10,000 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($39,000 vs. $29,000)
  • Ferrum College students graduate with a $10,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($28,000 vs. $38,000)
  • Ferrum College graduates are paying $103 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($289 vs. $392)
  • More Ferrum College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 15%)

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