University of the District of Columbia vs. Shaw University

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

University of the District of Columbia Shaw University
Location Washington, DC Raleigh, NC
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 3,577 1,067
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website udc.edu shawu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of the District of Columbia Shaw University
Tuition (In State) $5,292 $11,808
Tuition (Out of State) $12,144 $11,808
Room & Board $15,137 $8,514
Avg Net Price $15,021 $14,204
Avg Grant Aid $7,662 $15,548
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 87%

Admission

University of the District of Columbia Shaw University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 2,435
Admitted - 1,486
Acceptance Rate Open 61%
Enrolled % Open 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 required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025 Jul 30, 2025

Academics

University of the District of Columbia Shaw University
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

University of the District of Columbia Shaw University
Graduation Rate 8% 27%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,100 $29,000
Making Student Loan Payments 28% 15%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,000 $38,000
Median Loan Payment $227 $392

Diversity

University of the District of Columbia Shaw University
% Men 36% 47%
% Women 64% 53%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 4% 1%
% Black 62% 58%
% Hispanic 10% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 8% 2%
% Unknown Race 12% 39%

Students

University of the District of Columbia Shaw University
% In-State 82% 55%
% Out-of-State 13% 34%

Campus

University of the District of Columbia Shaw University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of the District of Columbia is larger than than Shaw University based on total student enrollment (3,577 students vs. 1,067 students)

University of the District of Columbia vs. Shaw University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of the District of Columbia or Shaw University?

  • Shaw University is 123.1% more expensive to attend than University of the District of Columbia for in-state tuition ($11,808.00 vs. $5,292.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.8% higher at University of the District of Columbia than Shaw University ($12,144.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than University of the District of Columbia ($14,204 vs. $15,021)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 77.8% lower than costs at University of the District of Columbia ($8,514 vs. $15,137)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of the District of Columbia than Shaw University (89% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shaw University students is 102.9% larger than aid received University of the District of Columbia ($15,548 vs. $7,662)

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

University of the District of Columbia vs. Shaw University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of the District of Columbia 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 University of the District of Columbia.

  • The graduation rate at Shaw University is higher than University of the District of Columbia (27% vs. 8%)
  • Graduates from University of the District of Columbia earn on average $8,100 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($37,100 vs. $29,000)
  • University of the District of Columbia students graduate with a $16,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($22,000 vs. $38,000)
  • University of the District of Columbia graduates are paying $165 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($227 vs. $392)
  • More University of the District of Columbia 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/