Union College vs. Shaw University

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

Union College Shaw University
Location Barbourville, KY Raleigh, NC
Setting Remote Town Large City
Enrollment 1,129 962
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #980
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website unionky.edu shawu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Union College Shaw University
Tuition (In State) $28,737 $12,408
Tuition (Out of State) $28,737 $12,408
Room & Board $8,261 $8,940
Avg Net Price $19,223 $14,111
Avg Grant Aid $24,684 $15,568
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 97%

Admission

Union College Shaw University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 834 10,699
Admitted 459 3,261
Acceptance Rate 55% 30.5%
Enrolled % 43.1% 5.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.15 2.6
Typical High School Grades B C+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 14/21
SAT Range 920/1105
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 30, 2025

Academics

Union College Shaw University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (24%)
  • Psychology (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

Union College Shaw University
Graduation Rate 32% 27%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $34,800 $29,000
Making Student Loan Payments 42% 15%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $38,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $392

Diversity

Union College Shaw University
% Men 21% 5%
% Women 14% 7%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No Yes
% White 72% 1%
% Black 12% 58%
% Hispanic 2% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 0%
% International 8% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 39%

Students

Union College Shaw University
% In-State 58% 55%
% Out-of-State 28% 34%

Campus

Union 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

  • Union College is larger than than Shaw University based on total student enrollment (1,129 students vs. 962 students)

Union College vs. Shaw University Cost Comparison

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

  • Union College is 131.6% more expensive to attend than Shaw University for in-state tuition ($28,737.00 vs. $12,408.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 131.6% higher at Union College than Shaw University ($28,737.00 vs. $12,408.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than Union College ($14,111 vs. $19,223)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Union College are 8.2% lower than costs at Shaw University ($8,261 vs. $8,940)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Union College than Shaw University (98% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Union College students is 58.6% larger than aid received Shaw University ($24,684 vs. $15,568)

Union College vs. Shaw University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Union College students have a 0.55 point higher average high school GPA (3.15) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
  • Union College has a higher acceptance rate (55%) than Shaw University (30.5%)

Union College vs. Shaw University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Union 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 Union College.

  • The graduation rate at Union College is higher than Shaw University (32% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Union College earn on average $5,800 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($34,800 vs. $29,000)
  • Union College students graduate with a $14,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($24,000 vs. $38,000)
  • Union College graduates are paying $144 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($248 vs. $392)
  • More Union College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 15%)

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