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Is Shaw University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Shaw, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Heavy lift
Shaw lands in the heavy lift band for a typical family. The combination of $16,512 in yearly net price and $32,500 in median debt asks a lot relative to median earnings of $34,409. For context, Shaw's net price is about 38% below the typical 4-year, private nonprofit school. This does not make the school wrong for every student, but it does mean the price deserves a closer test.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 1237 similar 4-year, private nonprofit schools
This school
$14,111
/yrAverage school like this
$22,837
/yrThis helps your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $8,726 less per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $35,000 in savings.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price is manageable, but it makes the aid offer matter a lot.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Repayment looks feasible, but not roomy.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$16,512
Median earnings 10 years out
$34,409
Median debt at graduation
$32,500
Graduation rate
21%
At Shaw, a typical graduate carries about $32,500 in student debt and earns roughly $34,409 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $370 per month, or 13% of pre-tax income. That sits at the tighter end of a workable borrower range.
What this means for your family
Shaw is a private nonprofit four year school in Raleigh, NC. Private pricing can swing more dramatically based on aid, so your personalized score matters more here than the national average view alone.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Private nonprofit 4-year
Davidson
Davidson, NC
Worth-It Score: 91/100
Median net price: $17,379
Private nonprofit 4-year
North Carolina Wesleyan
Rocky Mount, NC
Worth-It Score: 49/100
Median net price: $17,432
Private nonprofit 4-year
Gardner-Webb
Boiling Springs, NC
Worth-It Score: 59/100
Median net price: $17,674
Private nonprofit 4-year
Catawba
Salisbury, NC
Worth-It Score: 55/100
Median net price: $17,879
Private nonprofit 4-year
Greensboro
Greensboro, NC
Worth-It Score: 50/100
Median net price: $17,882
Common questions about Shaw
The median net price at Shaw is $16,512 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at private colleges options in North Carolina? See the most affordable private colleges in North Carolina →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →