Shaw University vs. VSU

Should I go to Shaw University or Virginia State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Shaw University or VSU 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Shaw University vs. Virginia State University comparison
Shaw University Virginia State University College 3 College 4
Shaw University Virginia State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Shaw University VSU
Location Raleigh, NC Petersburg, VA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,067 4,648
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #980
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website shawu.edu vsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Shaw University VSU
Tuition (In State) $11,808 $5,540
Tuition (Out of State) $11,808 $16,542
Room & Board $8,514 $11,544
Avg Net Price $14,204 $15,773
Avg Grant Aid $15,548 $11,498
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 92%

Admission

Shaw University VSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,435 8,230
Admitted 1,486 7,384
Acceptance Rate 61% 89.7%
Enrolled % 13.5% 18.7%
Avg High School GPA 2.6 2.85
Typical High School Grades C+ B-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 14/17
SAT Range 830/1030
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 May 1, 2025

Academics

Shaw University VSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • General Studies (7%)

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 47% 40%
% Women 53% 60%
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% 72%
% Out-of-State 34% 27%

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 (4,648 students vs. 1,067 students)

Shaw University vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Shaw University or VSU?

  • Shaw University is 113.1% more expensive to attend than VSU for in-state tuition ($11,808.00 vs. $5,540.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40.1% higher at VSU than Shaw University ($16,542.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than VSU ($14,204 vs. $15,773)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 35.6% lower than costs at Virginia State University ($8,514 vs. $11,544)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia State University than Shaw University (92% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shaw University students is 35.2% larger than aid received Virginia State University ($15,548 vs. $11,498)

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 (89.7%) than Shaw University (61%)

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/