Financial Aid

Admitted Students

Congratulations Future Bears! It’s time to take care of business.

Tuition & Fees

Shaw University works hard to keep costs down while providing the education and experience that you need to succeed. Most of our students are eligible for financial aid to offset these costs, and scholarships are also available.

See all costs and fees

Types of Aid

Your financial aid package is likely to include several types of aid, from federal grants and subsidized loans, to scholarships and work study. If you are a North Carolina resident, you may also be eligible for state aid.

Learn about types of aid

Applying for Aid

When you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, you provide information about income (yours and/or your family’s) and other factors that determine your eligibility for all types of financial assistance, including federal.

See how to apply for aid

For Veterans

U.S. Veterans are eligible for veterans benefits at Shaw University. Submit your application for benefits form 22-1990 to the Department of Veterans Affairs. After you have been approved, bring a copy of your certificate of eligibility to the Registrar’s Office or submit it to us by email. The certifying official at Shaw will then certify your enrollment to the Department of Veterans Affairs each semester that you are enrolled at the University, or until your benefits run out.

Apply for benefits online here.
Send your certificate to registrar@shawu.edu.

Learn more about Veterans Benefits

Calculate Your Costs

The Net Price Calculator is a tool that helps you and your family estimate your cost of attending Shaw University, based on the cost of attendance and financial aid for which you may qualify.

Try the Calculator

To be eligible to receive need-based financial aid funds, an undergraduate student must meet all of the following criteria:

Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (legal resident)

Be admitted and enrolled as a regular student in a degree-seeking program at least half-time (Undergraduate 6 hours and Graduate 5 hours)

Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the University

Demonstrate financial need in order to be awarded Title IV funds, as well as some state and institutional aid

Register with Selective Services if you are a male between 18 and 25 years of age

Not owe repayment of any Federal or State grant at any institution

Not be in default or delinquent on any Federal loans at any institution

Not have been convicted as an adult of possessing or selling illegal drugs

NOTE: A student enrolled as a “Special Student” is not eligible for Federal, State and University financial aid. Students who have earned a Bachelor’s Degree are only eligible for Federal Stafford Student Loan or Alternative Loan.

Visit studentaid.gov for additional information.
Most financial aid for which you might be eligible is based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (known as the FAFSA). This is a U.S. Department of Education form that you, or you and your parents, must fill in before we can determine how much aid you will receive.

The Department of Education uses financial and other information from your FAFSA to calculate your need for financial aid.

Once the Department of Education has processed your FAFSA, the eligibility results are sent to Shaw University. Based on the results, the Financial Aid office then creates a student aid offer for you. This offer may be made up of grants that you don’t have to repay, loans you must repay, work study, and any scholarships for which you may be eligible. (Note that some scholarships are not need-based.)

Types of Aid

How to apply for financial aid