Admissions

Requirements for admission to Shaw University are established by the faculty and reviewed by the administration, with minimum standards subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees or its Executive Committee.

All applicants who seek admission to Shaw University undergraduate programs must meet the minimum admission standards outlined below. In addition to the minimum admission standards listed below, applicants will be required to submit a Shaw University admissions application, a nonrefundable application fee of $25 ($40, if international) by check or money order, unless waived; proof of immunization; proof of residency; and if required, a background check. The admissions application can be obtained from our website at www.shawuniversity.edu/admissions or by writing to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment, located at 118 East South Street, Raleigh, NC 27601.  Admissions materials should be sent to the same address.

The Shaw University administration and faculty, who have jurisdiction over the admissions process, require that the Office of Admissions and Recruitment consider such factors as an applicant’s grades (must have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher or a GED certificate), class rank, standardized test scores, pattern of courses completed, educational objectives when making its admissions decisions. Shaw University requires that all entering freshmen complete the SAT or ACT and submit their official test score results to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment.

Admission to the University is contingent upon the University’s verification that the applicant has met all minimum standards for admission (“Admit Status”) and submitted all required documentation. Submission of false, distorted, or incomplete statements on or with the admissions application (including the background check), or the submission of fraudulent residence affidavits may result in the denial of classes, loss of tuition and fees paid, loss of future registration privileges, and/or exclusion or dismissal from the University.

Each year, Shaw University, has the discretion to admit a student who may not fully meet the institution’s minimum, admission standards but whose overall profile suggests academic promise. A student’s overall profile may be evidenced by factors that include, but are not limited to, the following: academic potential, leadership, community service, good citizenship, personal hardship, character, extenuating circumstances, or unplanned events.

As an integral part of its admission process, Shaw University strongly encourages ALL applicants to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Completing a FAFSA early in the process helps inform students whether, and how much, federal aid is available to them. FAFSA is separate from the admissions application. Students can complete the FAFSA from the webstie at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa as soon as possible or download the myStudentAid app either in the Apple App Store (iOS) or in Google Play (Android) to complete the FAFSA.

There are additional admissions policies that can be found on the University’s website.  Admissions policies may be updated based on government changes and may not be available at the time of the printing of the catalog. 

Applying as a First Time Freshman

First Time Freshman Admit Status

To be eligible for admission and receive “Admit Status”, a First Time Freshmen applicant must submit all the documentation listed below and meet the following minimum admission standards:

High School Diploma:

1. Graduate from high school with a diploma and a grade point average of a 2.0 or higher. The applicant must submit a final, official high school graduation transcript containing a final grade point average of 2.0 or higher and complete the following nineteen (19) high school units:
   • English - 4 units; 
   • Mathematics - 2 units;
   • Natural Sciences - 2 units;
   • Social Science - 2 units; and
   • Electives - 9 units;
2. Submit an official copy of his/her SAT or ACT score; and
3. Submit a background check, if required, that has been approved by the University.

General Education Development (GED) Certificate:

1. Submit an official copy of applicant’s GED certificate;
2. Submit an official copy of applicant’s SAT or ACT score; and
3. Submit a background check, if required, that has been approved by the University.

Home Schooled Students

To be eligible for admission as a First Year Freshman and receive “Admit Status”, a Home-Schooled applicant must submit all the documentation listed below and meet the following minimum admission standards.

1. Graduate from a home school authorized and supervised under a state agency and a grade point average of 2.0 or higher. The applicant must submit an official home school graduation transcript containing a final grade point average of 2.0 or higher and complete the following nineteen (19) high school units:
   • English - 4 units;
   • Mathematics - 2 units;
   • Natural Sciences - 2 units;
   • Social Science - 2 units; and
   • Electives - 9 units;
2. Submit an official copy of applicant’s SAT or ACT score; and
3. Submit a background check, if required, that has been approved by the University.

International Student Admission

To be eligible for admission as a First Year Freshman and receive “Admit Status”, all International applicants must submit all the documentation listed below and meet the following minimum admission standards:

1. Submit a Shaw University admissions application;
2. Submit a certified final, official high school graduation transcript with an equivalent grade point average of 2.0 or higher, which must be evaluated by the World Education Services (WES) or Global Credential Evaluators (GCE)
3. Submit an official copy of applicant’s SAT, ACT, TOEFL, or ILTS score;
4. Submit a complete, notarized affidavit of support (including original bank statements to confirm affidavit of support);
5. Submit a nonrefundable $40 application fee. International students must be approved for admission before an I20 form is issued by the Office of Admissions and Recruitment. An I20 form will not be issued until all financial documentation is received and approved. The University will not provide the applicant with an I20 form until all minimum standards have been met, and the applicant has received “Admit Status”; and
6. Submit a background check, if required, that has been approved by the University.

Recommended Application Deadlines for International Students:

Fall semester - May 30;

Spring Semester - November 30

Teacher Education Program

Admission to the Teacher Education Program is distinct from admission to the University. Students planning to pursue a teacher preparation program at Shaw University must meet certain specified admissions criteria. The entering freshman must meet the admissions requirement for the University, however, before students are eligible to apply for formal admission to the Teacher Education Programs at the end of their Sophomore year, they must have a GPA of 2.8.  They must also pass the Praxis I exam based on the current North Carolina state criteria or have an exemption based on a SAT score of 1170 or ACT score of 24.

In addition to regular, degree seeking students, the Teacher Education Programs also formally admit “certification only students,” i.e. those who are adding on a certificate or those who already hold a degree and are seeking initial certification. For more information on the Teacher Education programs, contact the Division of Education, Social Work and Child Development.

​Applying as a Transfer Student

Transfer Students

A Transfer student is defined as a student who has earned twelve (12) or more transferable hours from a regionally accredited postsecondary institution. To be eligible for admission as a Transfer student and receive “Admit Status”, a Transfer applicant must submit all the documentation listed below and meet the following minimum admission standards:

1. Have twelve (12) or more transferable hours from a regionally accredited institution;
2. Submission of a final, official transcript from the postsecondary institution from which he/she is transferring containing a grade point average of 2.0 or higher;
3. Submission of final, official transcript(s) for all other postsecondary institutions attended after high school; and
4. Submit a background check, if required, that has been approved by the University.

Shaw University will only give Transfer students course credit for courses in which the Transfer student earned a final grade of “C” or above. Transfer students may transfer no more than 90 credit hours toward Shaw University’s graduation requirements and are required to successfully complete at least 25 percent of his/her required graduation credit hours while enrolled at Shaw University. Only those credits the Office of the Registrar accepts for transfer will be added to the Shaw University transcript by the Registrar. Regardless of the number of credit hours transferred or transferable, the Transfer student will be held responsible for satisfactory completion of all courses that are required in his/her major area for a baccalaureate degree.

Transcripts from colleges and universities that are on the quarter system will be calculated to show value in semester hours. A quarter hour of academic credit is equivalent to two thirds of a semester hour.  This means a course that carries four quarter hours would equate to two and two-thirds semester hours, or a course carrying five quarter hours would equate to three and one-third semester hours, and so forth. This also means that in at least some cases, two courses from a quarter system would be required to fully satisfy equivalency in semester hours.

Students who apply for admission as a Transfer student should submit their final, official transcripts directly to the Director of the Office of Admissions and Recruitment. The Director of the Office of Admissions and Recruitment should then send the official copy of all college or university transcripts to the Office of the Registrar. Copies will then be prepared and sent to the respective division head for evaluation.  Transfer applicants are required to provide all final, official transcript(s) for credits earned from postsecondary schools to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment prior to enrollment. Transcripts received after mid semester of the first semester of enrollment may not be processed in time for advanced standing for financial aid purposes. It is the student’s responsibility to request that all transcripts and other records be forwarded to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment.

Transfer credits accepted for credit toward a Shaw University degree must have been completed at a postsecondary institution that is accredited as degree granting by a postsecondary regional accrediting commission at the time the course work was completed.  Exceptions may be allowed at the discretion of the University. AARTSArmy/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System credits may also be accepted based on American Council on Education guidelines.

If, at the time of application review by the Office of Admissions and Recruitment, a student has not graduated from high school, graduated from an authorized and supervised home school, submitted an official copy of his/her SAT or ACT score and, if required, his/her background check, the applicant will not be eligible to receive “Admit Status”. Instead, the applicant will be designated as having either “Conditional Acceptance Status” or “Acceptance Status”. Conditional Admission will only apply to applicants seeking admission with a GED certificate when the applicant has not submitted its SAT or ACT score. The submission of a GED certificate at the time of application is required. 

An applicant designated as having Conditional Acceptance Status or Acceptance Status will not be formally admitted into the University and receive “Admit status” until all the minimum admission standards and official documents listed above in the Applying as a First Time Freshman or Applying as a Transfer Student section have been satisfied/submitted by the applicant and received/approved by the University.

Acceptance Status:

If, at the time of application review by the Office of Admissions and Recruitment, a student has not graduated from high school, but his/her official high school transcript shows that the applicant has a current grade point average of 2.0 or higher or has submitted a GED certificate, he/she has submitted an official SAT or ACT score with his/her application and, if required, his/her background check, the applicant will receive “Acceptance Status” once approved by the University. The applicant, however, will not be formally admitted into the University and receive “Admit Status” until all the minimum admission standards and official documents listed above in the Applying as a First Time Freshman or Applying as a Transfer Student section have been satisfied/submitted by the applicant and received/approved by the University.

Conditional Acceptance Status:

If, at the time of application, a student, who has not graduated from high school, submits only an official high school transcript containing a current grade point average of 2.0 or higher with his/her application, the applicant will receive “Conditional Acceptance Status”.   The applicant will remain in Conditional Acceptance Status until he/she has submitted an official SAT or ACT score and received University approval of his/her background check, if a background check is required.

Once the Office of Admissions and Recruitment receives the applicant’s official SAT or ACT score, the applicant will receive “Acceptance Status”. However, the applicant will not be formally admitted into the University and receive “Admit Status until the applicant has met all the minimum admission standards and official documents listed above in the Applying as a First Time Freshman or Applying as a Transfer Student section have been satisfied/submitted by the applicant and received by the University.

Applying as a Special Student

A student may enroll at Shaw University with no intention of earning a degree. Such applicants must seek admission as a Special student and, if required, submit a background check for approval by the University. The student will be classified as a Special student once enrolled. Special students are not eligible to receive federal financial assistance.

Veterans as Students

Shaw University is on the list of approved institutions that can provide education under the Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Program.  Shaw University offers VA programs to qualifying applicants attending the main campus in Raleigh, as well as all CAPE sites.  These students must adhere to the same admission policies for the University.

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