Barton College vs Shaw University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Barton College comes closer — median earnings $47,913 against a $94,504 total, vs $34,409 at Shaw University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Barton College | Shaw University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,626 | $16,512 |
| Total net cost | $94,504 | $66,048 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,913 | $34,409 |
| Median debt | $25,877 | $32,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$103,444 | -$345,068 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Barton College or Shaw University?
Shaw University, at $16,512 a year after aid versus $23,626 — a gap of $7,114 a year, or $28,456 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Barton College or Shaw University graduates earn more?
Barton College graduates report a median $47,913 ten years after entry, $13,504 more than the $34,409 at Shaw University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Barton College or Shaw University?
Barton College: its completers carry a median $25,877 in federal loans versus $32,500 at Shaw University, a difference of $6,623. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
46% of students finish at Barton College, against 22% at Shaw University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.