Shaw University

Organized into three schools—Arts, Sciences & Humanities; Business & Professional Studies; and Divinity—Shaw offers 24 majors with social work, business administration, and kinesiology as standouts. The 14:1 student-faculty ratio enables close mentorship, though only 16-22% of students graduate within six years. Programs emphasize practical skills, with 6% of degrees each in communications/journalism, computer science, and social sciences. The Princeton Review notes an unusually high proportion of bachelor's degrees awarded in social work relative to peer institutions.

Campus life revolves around four gender-segregated residence halls that house 70% of students, including most freshmen and sophomores. The Division of Student Affairs orchestrates a packed calendar of events, from intramural sports to leadership programs—many showcased on their active Instagram (@dos_shawu) with 500+ posts. YouTube campus tours reveal a lively, if no-frills, environment where students bond over shared challenges and HBCU traditions. With 30% commuting, the university works to integrate off-campus students through mandatory freshman programming.

Shaw faces stark graduation challenges: its 20% six-year rate places it in the bottom 5% nationally, with men graduating at just 19%. Alumni earn approximately $25,000 early-career—$11,000 below predicted benchmarks for their majors. Retention hovers near 40%, suggesting many struggle academically or financially. However, the university serves a high proportion of first-generation?First-generation (first-gen)A student who would be the first in their immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Many colleges consider this in context. and low-income students who might not otherwise access higher education, with some programs like social work outperforming institutional averages.

With an average net price?Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. of $14,204 after aid—covering 70% of students—Shaw positions itself as an affordable private option. The financial aid office emphasizes package customization, offering a net price calculator to estimate individualized costs. Typical aid packages total $14,178, often combining federal grants with institutional scholarships. However, the low graduation rate suggests some students still struggle with unmet needs or debt management despite these supports.

As Raleigh's first HBCU (founded 1865), Shaw carries historic weight—it educated generations of Black leaders when few other options existed. Today, it thrives as an unpretentious incubator for students who need extra support, offering rare 14:1 classes at a private college price point. The tight residential community (complete with beloved gender-segregated dorms) and focus on practical majors like social work create a distinct identity. While outcomes lag, Shaw's mission—serving the underserved—remains vital in a state where just 58% of private colleges exceed 50% graduation rates.