Shaw University, founded in 1865 in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, is the oldest historically black college and university in the American South. With nearly 1,100 students and an 86% degree completion rate among incoming freshmen, the institution offers undergraduate and graduate programmes across arts and sciences, business, and health professions.
The university has established several specialized centres aligned with contemporary workforce needs. Its Center for Cybersecurity Education and Research prepares students for careers in cyber operations, policy, and ethics. The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center supports aspiring black entrepreneurs, whilst the Technology Advisory Council connects students to industry specialists from Apple, Google, Cisco, IBM, and Red Hat. The Center for Racial and Social Justice continues Shaw's long tradition of scholarship and activism.
Shaw's historical significance extends beyond its founding date. Early students, many of whom were formerly enslaved, constructed their own classrooms from handmade bricks whilst meeting in sharecroppers' cabins. The institution fostered civil rights leadership, notably serving as the birthplace of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee in 1960. Alumni include members of Congress, college presidents, Grammy-winning artists, and professional athletes.
