Shaw University vs. Sterling College

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

 Shaw University Sterling College
Location Raleigh, NC Craftsbury Common, VT
Setting Large City Remote Rural
Enrollment 962 78
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website shawu.edu sterlingcollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Shaw University Sterling College
Tuition (In State) $12,408 $40,560
Tuition (Out of State) $12,408 $40,560
Room & Board $8,940 $10,950
Avg Net Price $14,111 $30,785
Avg Grant Aid $15,568 $21,515
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 100%

Admission

 Shaw University Sterling College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,699 52
Admitted 3,261 48
Acceptance Rate 30.5% 92.3%
Enrolled % 5.7% 14.6%
Avg High School GPA 2.6 3.1
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) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 30, 2026

Academics

 Shaw University Sterling College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (48%)
  • Biology (33%)
  • Agriculture (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)

Outcomes

 Shaw University Sterling College
Graduation Rate 27% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $29,000 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 15% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $38,000 $17,035
Median Loan Payment $392 $176

Diversity

 Shaw University Sterling College
% Men 5% 8%
% Women 7% 8%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 1% 83%
% Black 58% 3%
% Hispanic 0% 3%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 0%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 39% 6%

Students

 Shaw University Sterling College
% In-State 55% 0%
% Out-of-State 34% 100%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Shaw University is larger than than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (962 students vs. 78 students)

Shaw University vs. Sterling College Cost Comparison

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

  • Sterling College is 226.9% more expensive to attend than Shaw University for in-state tuition ($40,560.00 vs. $12,408.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 226.9% higher at Sterling College than Shaw University ($40,560.00 vs. $12,408.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than Sterling College ($14,111 vs. $30,785)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 22.5% lower than costs at Sterling College ($8,940 vs. $10,950)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sterling College than Shaw University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 38.2% larger than aid received Shaw University ($21,515 vs. $15,568)

Shaw University vs. Sterling College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Sterling College students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.1) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
  • Sterling College has a higher acceptance rate (92.3%) than Shaw University (30.5%)

Shaw University vs. Sterling College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Sterling College is higher than Shaw University (50% vs. 27%)
  • Sterling College students graduate with a $20,965 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($17,035 vs. $38,000)
  • Sterling College graduates are paying $216 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($176 vs. $392)
  • More Sterling College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 15%)

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