Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
NSU Morgan State Bowie State University RU North Carolina Central University Old Dominion Delaware State University Hampton University ECSU WSSU JCSU Temple| Shaw University | Virginia State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Shaw University | VSU | ||
| Location | Raleigh, NC | Petersburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 962 | 5,190 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #930 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Baptist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | shawu.edu | vsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Shaw University | VSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,408 | $5,540 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $12,408 | $17,038 | ||
| Room & Board | $8,940 | $12,966 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,111 | $16,184 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $15,568 | $12,300 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 92% |
Admission |
Shaw University | VSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,699 | 10,577 | ||
| Admitted | 3,261 | 9,424 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 30.5% | 89.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 5.7% | 15.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 2.6 | 2.85 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | C+ | B- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 14/20 | |||
| SAT Range | 800/1050 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 30, 2026 | May 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Shaw University | VSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 13:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Shaw University | VSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 27% | 40% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $29,000 | $36,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 15% | 28% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $38,000 | $29,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $392 | $305 |
Diversity |
Shaw University | VSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 7% | 4% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | Yes | Yes | ||
| % White | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Black | 58% | 87% | ||
| % Hispanic | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | ||
| % International | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 39% | 7% |
Students |
Shaw University | VSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 55% | 66% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 34% | 33% | ||
Campus |
Shaw University | VSU | ||
| 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
- Virginia State University is larger than than Shaw University based on total student enrollment (5,190 students vs. 962 students)
Shaw University vs. VSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Shaw University or VSU?
- Shaw University is 124% more expensive to attend than VSU for in-state tuition ($12,408.00 vs. $5,540.00)
- Out of state tuition is 37.3% higher at VSU than Shaw University ($17,038.00 vs. $12,408.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than VSU ($14,111 vs. $16,184)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 45% lower than costs at Virginia State University ($8,940 vs. $12,966)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Shaw University than Virginia State University (97% vs. 92%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Shaw University students is 26.6% larger than aid received Virginia State University ($15,568 vs. $12,300)
Shaw University vs. VSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Shaw University or VSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VSU or Shaw University .
- Accepted freshman VSU students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (2.85) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
- VSU has a higher acceptance rate (89.1%) than Shaw University (30.5%)
Shaw University vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Shaw University or VSU? 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 VSU and Shaw University.
- The graduation rate at VSU is higher than Shaw University (40% vs. 27%)
- Graduates from Virginia State University earn on average $7,700 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($36,700 vs. $29,000)
- Virginia State University students graduate with a $8,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($29,500 vs. $38,000)
- VSU graduates are paying $87 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($305 vs. $392)
- More VSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (28% vs. 15%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/