Shaw University may be small, but it has a big mission. For 150 years, we have been pioneers, providing a welcoming environment and opportunities to students historically excluded from higher education while continuously embracing innovation. At Shaw, young people discover the tools and inspiration they need to shape the future.

Optimism and Resilience

Shaw changed the path of education as the South’s first historically Black institution of higher education, and among the first in the nation. Though we’ve seen our share of challenges, we’ve turned them into opportunities. Shaw has grown, held its role as an academic leader, and served as an incubator for new thinking.

Bible-School Beginnings

In 1865, the year that slavery was abolished in the U.S., the American Baptist Hope Mission Society founded the Raleigh Theological Institute—now Shaw University. Black people seeking education, employment, and financial independence—many of them former slaves—flocked to the school, which gained support and grew. Shaw University incorporated in 1875, just ten years after its founding.

Groundbreaking Growth

As Shaw grew, the University’s vision for Black higher education expanded, leading to a series of firsts: the first HBCU to welcome women students, and the first to train doctors, pharmacists, and lawyers who could serve their communities. By 1900, the University had trained more than 30,000 teachers of color. Several went on to become the first presidents of HBCUs around the country. In the 20th century, Shaw graduates advanced science, media, and political, racial and gender studies. Our alumni stood among Black America’s first professional generation.

Struggles, Perseverance, and Support

Shaw has met challenges, too. In the 1980s, the University suffered low enrollment and crushing debt. More money problems emerged in 2009, and in 2011, a tornado ravaged the campus. Through the years, alumni and others have lent their support, helping the University restructure, rebuild, and look to a brighter future.

Shaw Forever

Today nearly 1,100 students attend Shaw University. The American South’s oldest HBCU remains relevant and strong, offering both students and members of the Raleigh community new opportunities. Today, students can prepare at Shaw for careers in emerging fields like digital technology and cybersecurity. Our Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center works with students and local aspiring small business owners who want to become successful Black entrepreneurs. We’re extend our connections with the Raleigh community, offering educational options to adult learners with career dreams to incarcerated men and women who want to learn while in prison. And Shaw’s collaboration with the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina promises to lead to new corporate partnerships that will enhance student career opportunities in the innovation sector.