Shaw University vs. Mercyhurst College

Should I go to Shaw University or Mercyhurst College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Shaw University or Mercyhurst 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Shaw University vs. Mercyhurst College comparison
Shaw University Mercyhurst College College 3 College 4
Shaw University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Shaw University Mercyhurst College
Location Raleigh, NC Erie, PA
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 1,067 2,801
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Baptist Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website shawu.edu mercyhurst.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Shaw University Mercyhurst College
Tuition (In State) $11,808 $40,530
Tuition (Out of State) $11,808 $40,530
Room & Board $8,514 $14,025
Avg Net Price $14,204 $24,935
Avg Grant Aid $15,548 $32,418
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 95%

Admission

Shaw University Mercyhurst College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,435 3,625
Admitted 1,486 2,920
Acceptance Rate 61% 80.6%
Enrolled % 13.5% 18.7%
Avg High School GPA 2.6 3.36
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 considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 30, 2025

Academics

Shaw University Mercyhurst College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Health Professions (27%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (19%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (7%)
  • General Studies (5%)

Outcomes

Shaw University Mercyhurst College
Graduation Rate 27% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $29,000 $43,700
Making Student Loan Payments 15% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $38,000 $26,698
Median Loan Payment $392 $276

Diversity

Shaw University Mercyhurst College
% Men 47% 40%
% Women 53% 60%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 1% 73%
% Black 58% 6%
% Hispanic 0% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 1%
% International 2% 11%
% Unknown Race 39% 4%

Students

Shaw University Mercyhurst College
% In-State 55% 51%
% Out-of-State 34% 45%

Campus

Shaw University Mercyhurst 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

  • Mercyhurst College is larger than than Shaw University based on total student enrollment (2,801 students vs. 1,067 students)

Shaw University vs. Mercyhurst College Cost Comparison

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

  • Mercyhurst College is 243.2% more expensive to attend than Shaw University for in-state tuition ($40,530.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 243.2% higher at Mercyhurst College than Shaw University ($40,530.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than Mercyhurst College ($14,204 vs. $24,935)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 64.7% lower than costs at Mercyhurst College ($8,514 vs. $14,025)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mercyhurst College than Shaw University (95% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercyhurst College students is 108.5% larger than aid received Shaw University ($32,418 vs. $15,548)

Shaw University vs. Mercyhurst College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Mercyhurst College students have a 0.76 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
  • Mercyhurst College has a higher acceptance rate (80.6%) than Shaw University (61%)

Shaw University vs. Mercyhurst College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Mercyhurst College is higher than Shaw University (68% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Mercyhurst College earn on average $14,700 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($43,700 vs. $29,000)
  • Mercyhurst College students graduate with a $11,302 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($26,698 vs. $38,000)
  • Mercyhurst College graduates are paying $116 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($276 vs. $392)
  • More Mercyhurst College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 15%)

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