USW vs. Shaw University

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

 USW Shaw University
Location Hobbs, NM Raleigh, NC
Setting Rural Fringe Large City
Enrollment 1,066 1,067
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website usw.edu shawu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 USW Shaw University
Tuition (In State) $17,000 $11,808
Tuition (Out of State) $17,000 $11,808
Room & Board $8,910 $8,514
Avg Net Price $20,533 $14,204
Avg Grant Aid $8,365 $15,548
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 87%

Admission

 USW Shaw University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 2,435
Admitted - 1,486
Acceptance Rate Open 61%
Enrolled % Open 13.5%
Avg High School GPA 2.63 2.6
Typical High School Grades C+ 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 Jul 30, 2025

Academics

 USW Shaw University
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (36%)
  • Education (29%)
  • Psychology (17%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (5%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

 USW Shaw University
Graduation Rate 18% 27%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,700 $29,000
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 15%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $38,000
Median Loan Payment $242 $392

Diversity

 USW Shaw University
% Men 38% 47%
% Women 62% 53%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No Yes
% White 12% 1%
% Black 14% 58%
% Hispanic 47% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 0%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 26% 39%

Students

 USW Shaw University
% In-State 48% 55%
% Out-of-State 48% 34%

Campus

 USW 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

  • Shaw University is larger than than USW based on total student enrollment (1,067 students vs. 1,066 students)

USW vs. Shaw University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USW or Shaw University?

  • University of the Southwest is 44% more expensive to attend than Shaw University for in-state tuition ($17,000.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 44% higher at USW than Shaw University ($17,000.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than USW ($14,204 vs. $20,533)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 4.7% lower than costs at University of the Southwest ($8,514 vs. $8,910)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of the Southwest than Shaw University (100% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shaw University students is 85.9% larger than aid received University of the Southwest ($15,548 vs. $8,365)

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

  • Accepted freshman USW students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (2.63) than students at Shaw University (2.6)

USW vs. Shaw University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, USW 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 USW.

  • The graduation rate at Shaw University is higher than University of the Southwest (27% vs. 18%)
  • Graduates from University of the Southwest earn on average $16,700 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($45,700 vs. $29,000)
  • University of the Southwest students graduate with a $14,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($23,500 vs. $38,000)
  • USW graduates are paying $150 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($242 vs. $392)
  • More USW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 15%)

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