Shaw University, founded in 1865 in Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, is the oldest Historically Black College and University in the American South. The institution educates nearly 1,100 students across undergraduate and graduate programmes in arts, sciences, business, health professions, digital technology, and cybersecurity, with approximately 86% of incoming freshmen completing their degrees.
The university operates several specialized centres addressing contemporary workforce needs. Its Center for Cybersecurity Education and Research prepares students for careers in cyber operations, policy, and ethics. The Technology Advisory Council, featuring specialists from Apple, Google, Cisco, IBM, and Red Hat, connects students with resources and relationships across the technology sector. The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center supports aspiring Black entrepreneurs, whilst the Center for Racial and Social Justice continues Shaw's longstanding commitment to activism and scholarship.
Shaw's heritage spans over 160 years. Early students, many formerly enslaved, met in sharecroppers' cabins and constructed their own classrooms. The Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee was founded at Shaw in 1960 by alumna Ella Baker. Alumni have included members of Congress, college presidents, civil rights leaders, Grammy-winning artists, and professional athletes.