Shaw University vs. Marshall University

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

Shaw University Marshall University
Location Raleigh, NC Huntington, WV
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 962 11,027
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #825
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website shawu.edu marshall.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Shaw University Marshall University
Tuition (In State) $12,408 $7,372
Tuition (Out of State) $12,408 $18,724
Room & Board $8,940 $12,852
Avg Net Price $14,111 $9,734
Avg Grant Aid $15,568 $12,024
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 96%

Admission

Shaw University Marshall University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,699 6,499
Admitted 3,261 6,269
Acceptance Rate 30.5% 96.5%
Enrolled % 5.7% 27.7%
Avg High School GPA 2.6 3.68
Typical High School Grades C+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Very Easy
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 18/24
SAT Range 890/1130
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, 2025 Aug 10, 2025

Academics

Shaw University Marshall University
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Shaw University Marshall University
Graduation Rate 27% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $29,000 $40,200
Making Student Loan Payments 15% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $38,000 $23,134
Median Loan Payment $392 $239

Diversity

Shaw University Marshall University
% Men 5% 9%
% Women 7% 17%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 1% 84%
% Black 58% 7%
% Hispanic 0% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 39% 1%

Students

Shaw University Marshall University
% In-State 55% 78%
% Out-of-State 34% 22%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Marshall University is larger than than Shaw University based on total student enrollment (11,027 students vs. 962 students)

Shaw University vs. Marshall University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Shaw University or Marshall University?

  • Shaw University is 68.3% more expensive to attend than Marshall University for in-state tuition ($12,408.00 vs. $7,372.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 50.9% higher at Marshall University than Shaw University ($18,724.00 vs. $12,408.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Marshall University than Shaw University ($9,734 vs. $14,111)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 43.8% lower than costs at Marshall University ($8,940 vs. $12,852)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shaw University than Marshall University (97% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shaw University students is 29.5% larger than aid received Marshall University ($15,568 vs. $12,024)

Shaw University vs. Marshall University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Marshall University students have a 1.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
  • Marshall University has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than Shaw University (30.5%)

Shaw University vs. Marshall University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Shaw University or Marshall University? 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 Marshall University and Shaw University.

  • The graduation rate at Marshall University is higher than Shaw University (44% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Marshall University earn on average $11,200 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($40,200 vs. $29,000)
  • Marshall University students graduate with a $14,866 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($23,134 vs. $38,000)
  • Marshall University graduates are paying $153 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($239 vs. $392)
  • More Marshall University 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/