Shaw University vs. Messenger College

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

Shaw University Messenger College
Location Raleigh, NC Joplin, TX
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 1,067 19
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Baptist Other Protestant - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website shawu.edu messengercollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Shaw University Messenger College
Tuition (In State) $11,808 $9,480
Tuition (Out of State) $11,808 $9,480
Room & Board $8,514 $7,832
Avg Net Price $14,204 $17,197
Avg Grant Aid $15,548 $7,812
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 100%

Admission

Shaw University Messenger College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,435 8
Admitted 1,486 4
Acceptance Rate 61% 50%
Enrolled % 13.5% 100%
Avg High School GPA 2.6 2.9
Typical High School Grades C+ B-
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 required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 30, 2025 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

Shaw University Messenger College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (83%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Business (6%)

Outcomes

Shaw University Messenger College
Graduation Rate 27% 10%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $29,000 $24,000
Making Student Loan Payments 15% 40%
Median Student Loan Debt $38,000 N/A
Median Loan Payment $392 N/A

Diversity

Shaw University Messenger College
% Men 47% 42%
% Women 53% 58%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU Yes No
% White 1% 54%
% Black 58% 18%
% Hispanic 0% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 5%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 39% 8%

Students

Shaw University Messenger College
% In-State 55% 50%
% Out-of-State 34% 50%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Shaw University is larger than than Messenger College based on total student enrollment (1,067 students vs. 19 students)

Shaw University vs. Messenger College Cost Comparison

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

  • Shaw University is 24.6% more expensive to attend than Messenger College for in-state tuition ($11,808.00 vs. $9,480.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 24.6% higher at Shaw University than Messenger College ($11,808.00 vs. $9,480.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than Messenger College ($14,204 vs. $17,197)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messenger College are 8.7% lower than costs at Shaw University ($7,832 vs. $8,514)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Messenger College than Shaw University (100% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shaw University students is 99% larger than aid received Messenger College ($15,548 vs. $7,812)

Shaw University vs. Messenger College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Messenger College students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (2.9) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
  • Shaw University has a higher acceptance rate (61%) than Messenger College (50%)

Shaw University vs. Messenger College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Shaw University is higher than Messenger College (27% vs. 10%)
  • Graduates from Shaw University earn on average $5,000 more per year than Messenger College graduates after ten years. ($29,000 vs. $24,000)
  • More Messenger College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 15%)

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