Shaw University vs. Potomac College-Washington

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

Shaw University Potomac College-Washington
Location Raleigh, NC Washington, DC
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 1,067 534
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit For-profit
Website shawu.edu potomac.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Shaw University Potomac College-Washington
Tuition (In State) $11,808 $5,760
Tuition (Out of State) $11,808 $5,760
Room & Board $8,514 $11,360
Avg Net Price $14,204 $16,802
Avg Grant Aid $15,548 $3,689
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 17%

Admission

Shaw University Potomac College-Washington
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,435 -
Admitted 1,486 -
Acceptance Rate 61% Open
Enrolled % 13.5% Open
Avg High School GPA 2.6 -
Typical High School Grades C+ -
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 30, 2025

Academics

Shaw University Potomac College-Washington
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%)
  • Business (94%)
  • Health Professions (4%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (2%)

Outcomes

Shaw University Potomac College-Washington
Graduation Rate 27% 20%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $29,000 $51,400
Making Student Loan Payments 15% 26%
Median Student Loan Debt $38,000 $30,500
Median Loan Payment $392 $315

Diversity

Shaw University Potomac College-Washington
% Men 47% 62%
% Women 53% 38%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 1% 19%
% Black 58% 62%
% Hispanic 0% 2%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 0% 5%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 39% 6%

Students

Shaw University Potomac College-Washington
% In-State 55% 14%
% Out-of-State 34% 86%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Shaw University is larger than than Potomac College-Washington based on total student enrollment (1,067 students vs. 534 students)

Shaw University vs. Potomac College-Washington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Shaw University or Potomac College-Washington?

  • Shaw University is 105% more expensive to attend than Potomac College-Washington for in-state tuition ($11,808.00 vs. $5,760.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 105% higher at Shaw University than Potomac College Washington ($11,808.00 vs. $5,760.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than Potomac College-Washington ($14,204 vs. $16,802)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 33.4% lower than costs at Potomac College Washington ($8,514 vs. $11,360)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shaw University than Potomac College Washington (87% vs. 17%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shaw University students is 321.5% larger than aid received Potomac College Washington ($15,548 vs. $3,689)

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

Shaw University vs. Potomac College-Washington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Shaw University or Potomac College-Washington? 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 Potomac College-Washington and Shaw University.

  • The graduation rate at Shaw University is higher than Potomac College Washington (27% vs. 20%)
  • Graduates from Potomac College Washington earn on average $22,400 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($51,400 vs. $29,000)
  • Potomac College Washington students graduate with a $7,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($30,500 vs. $38,000)
  • Potomac College-Washington graduates are paying $77 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($315 vs. $392)
  • More Potomac College-Washington graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (26% vs. 15%)

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