Shaw University vs. SCU

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

 Shaw University SCU
Location Raleigh, NC Bethany, OK
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 962 364
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Baptist Pentecostal Holiness Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website shawu.edu swcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Shaw University SCU
Tuition (In State) $12,408 $17,040
Tuition (Out of State) $12,408 $17,040
Room & Board $8,940 $9,400
Avg Net Price $14,111 $20,714
Avg Grant Aid $15,568 $12,214
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 99%

Admission

 Shaw University SCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,699 -
Admitted 3,261 -
Acceptance Rate 30.5%
Enrolled % 5.7%
Avg High School GPA 2.6 3.22
Typical High School Grades C+ B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 30, 2026

Academics

 Shaw University SCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Human Services (34%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (9%)

Outcomes

 Shaw University SCU
Graduation Rate 27% 28%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $29,000 $27,400
Making Student Loan Payments 15% 38%
Median Student Loan Debt $38,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $392 $279

Diversity

 Shaw University SCU
% Men 5% 2%
% Women 7% 1%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU Yes No
% White 1% 44%
% Black 58% 25%
% Hispanic 0% 8%
% Native American 0% 4%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 2% 10%
% Unknown Race 39% 4%

Students

 Shaw University SCU
% In-State 55% 72%
% Out-of-State 34% 19%

Campus

 Shaw University SCU
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 SCU based on total student enrollment (962 students vs. 364 students)

Shaw University vs. SCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Shaw University or SCU?

  • Southwestern Christian University is 37.3% more expensive to attend than Shaw University for in-state tuition ($17,040.00 vs. $12,408.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 37.3% higher at SCU than Shaw University ($17,040.00 vs. $12,408.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than SCU ($14,111 vs. $20,714)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 5.1% lower than costs at Southwestern Christian University ($8,940 vs. $9,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southwestern Christian University than Shaw University (99% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shaw University students is 27.5% larger than aid received Southwestern Christian University ($15,568 vs. $12,214)

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

  • Accepted freshman SCU students have a 0.62 point higher average high school GPA (3.22) than students at Shaw University (2.6)

Shaw University vs. SCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at SCU is higher than Shaw University (28% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Shaw University earn on average $1,600 more per year than SCU graduates after ten years. ($29,000 vs. $27,400)
  • Southwestern Christian University students graduate with a $11,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($27,000 vs. $38,000)
  • SCU graduates are paying $113 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($279 vs. $392)
  • More SCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (38% vs. 15%)

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