Thomas College vs. Shaw University

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

Thomas College Shaw University
Location Waterville, ME Raleigh, NC
Setting Rural Fringe Large City
Enrollment 1,737 1,067
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website thomas.edu shawu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Thomas College Shaw University
Tuition (In State) $28,954 $11,808
Tuition (Out of State) $28,954 $11,808
Room & Board $11,998 $8,514
Avg Net Price $22,070 $14,204
Avg Grant Aid $20,732 $15,548
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 87%

Admission

Thomas College Shaw University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 869 2,435
Admitted 845 1,486
Acceptance Rate 97.2% 61%
Enrolled % 27.7% 13.5%
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 considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 30, 2025

Academics

Thomas College Shaw University
Student to Faculty Ratio 23:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (41%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (20%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

Thomas College Shaw University
Graduation Rate 45% 27%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,000 $29,000
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 15%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $38,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $392

Diversity

Thomas College Shaw University
% Men 45% 47%
% Women 55% 53%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No Yes
% White 75% 1%
% Black 4% 58%
% Hispanic 2% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 9% 0%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 6% 39%

Students

Thomas College Shaw University
% In-State 77% 55%
% Out-of-State 16% 34%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Thomas College is larger than than Shaw University based on total student enrollment (1,737 students vs. 1,067 students)

Thomas College vs. Shaw University Cost Comparison

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

  • Thomas College is 145.2% more expensive to attend than Shaw University for in-state tuition ($28,954.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 145.2% higher at Thomas College than Shaw University ($28,954.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than Thomas College ($14,204 vs. $22,070)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 40.9% lower than costs at Thomas College ($8,514 vs. $11,998)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Thomas College than Shaw University (100% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Thomas College students is 33.3% larger than aid received Shaw University ($20,732 vs. $15,548)

Thomas College vs. Shaw University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Thomas College has a higher acceptance rate (97.2%) than Shaw University (61%)

Thomas College vs. Shaw University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Thomas College or Shaw University? 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 Shaw University and Thomas College.

  • The graduation rate at Thomas College is higher than Shaw University (45% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Thomas College earn on average $12,000 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($41,000 vs. $29,000)
  • Thomas College students graduate with a $11,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($27,000 vs. $38,000)
  • Thomas College graduates are paying $113 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($279 vs. $392)
  • More Thomas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 15%)

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