Shaw University Acceptance Rate
Raleigh, North Carolina · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 10,699
- Admitted
- 3,261
- Yield
- 5.7%
- Test policy
- Test-blind
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Shaw University's acceptance rate has fallen from 59.3% in 2014–15 to 30.5% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 5,766 to 10,699 (+86%) over that period.
Its 30.5% rate makes Shaw University more selective than about 93% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 53 tracked North Carolina schools, it is more selective than about 91%.
Shaw University has been test-blind (scores not considered) since 2023–24. Of admitted students, 5.7% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 5,766 | 3,422 | 59.3% | 469 |
| 2015–16 | 5,030 | 3,042 | 60.5% | 402 |
| 2016–17 | 9,608 | 4,695 | 48.9% | 643 |
| 2017–18 | 12,060 | 6,375 | 52.9% | 493 |
| 2018–19 | 12,157 | 6,365 | 52.4% | 391 |
| 2019–20 | 4,311 | 2,733 | 63.4% | 254 |
| 2020–21 | 6,437 | 4,542 | 70.6% | 286 |
| 2021–22 | 2,435 | 1,591 | 65.3% | 142 |
| 2022–23 | 2,435 | 1,486 | 61% | 200 |
| 2023–24 | 10,699 | 3,261 | 30.5% | 186 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 6,281 | 1,955 | 31.1% |
| Men | 4,329 | 1,293 | 29.9% |
| Unknown | 89 | 13 | 14.6% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-blind (not considered).
How Shaw University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Shaw University's acceptance rate?
Shaw University's acceptance rate is 30.5% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (3,261 admitted of 10,699 applicants).
Is Shaw University test optional?
Shaw University is test-blind: SAT/ACT scores are not considered in admission.
How many people apply to Shaw University?
Shaw University received 10,699 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 3,261.
Is Shaw University getting harder to get into?
Shaw University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 59.3% in 2014–15 to 30.5% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.shawu.edu/.