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. The minimum standards are as follows:

A high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) certificate

Minimum course requirements;
 English 3 units
 Mathematics 2 units
 Natural Sciences 2 units
 Social Sciences 2 units
 Electives* 9 units

A minimum grade point average of 2.0 (on a 4.00 scale)

*Electives should be in English, foreign languages, mathematics, natural sciences, or social sciences

The Office of Admissions considers such factors as an applicant’s grades or GED test scores, class rank, standardized test scores, pattern of courses completed, educational objectives, school and personal recommendations, record of past conduct, or personal records when making its admissions decisions.

Persons who seek admissions to the University must submit the following:

 Complete the online application for admission
 $25 non-refundable admission application fee payable by money order or cashier's check
 Admission essay
 Official high school transcript that show your cumulative grade point average and class rank
 Standardized test scores (if not on the transcript)
 One letter of recommendation from a counselor
 One letter of recommendation from a teacher
 One letter of recommendation from someone other than a relative

Admission to the University is contingent upon verification of the applicant’s graduation from high school and receipt of transcripts showing the applicant’s satisfactory performance in any courses completed after applying for admission. Submission of false, distorted, or incomplete statements on or with the admissions application or submission of fraudulent residence affidavits may result in denial of classes, loss of tuition and fees paid, exclusion or dismissal, and/or loss of future registration privileges.