Catawba College vs. SWU

Should I go to Catawba College or Southern Wesleyan University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Catawba College or SWU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Catawba College vs. Southern Wesleyan University comparison
Catawba College Southern Wesleyan University College 3 College 4
Catawba College
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Overview

Catawba College SWU
Location Salisbury, NC Central, SC
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 1,172 1,175
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #515 #826
Religious Affiliation - Wesleyan - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website catawba.edu edu.
Team Colors                    

Costs

Catawba College SWU
Tuition (In State) $32,868 $26,520
Tuition (Out of State) $32,868 $26,520
Room & Board $11,576 $9,650
Avg Net Price $19,701 $17,639
Avg Grant Aid $26,913 $19,636
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Catawba College SWU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,199 846
Admitted 2,146 433
Acceptance Rate 67.1% 51.2%
Enrolled % 13.9% 34.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 4.0
Typical High School Grades B+ A/A+
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 18/27 19/23
SAT Range 1000/1210 1013/1160
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Catawba College SWU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (66%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (3%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • Psychology (3%)

Outcomes

Catawba College SWU
Graduation Rate 54% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $44,800
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $279

Diversity

Catawba College SWU
% Men 48% 33%
% Women 52% 67%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 69% 63%
% Black 19% 28%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Catawba College SWU
% In-State 61% 58%
% Out-of-State 34% 42%

Campus

Catawba College SWU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Southern Wesleyan University is larger than than Catawba College based on total student enrollment (1,175 students vs. 1,172 students)

Catawba College vs. SWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or SWU?

  • Catawba College is 23.9% more expensive to attend than SWU for in-state tuition ($32,868.00 vs. $26,520.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 23.9% higher at Catawba College than Southern Wesleyan University ($32,868.00 vs. $26,520.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern Wesleyan University than Catawba College ($17,639 vs. $19,701)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Wesleyan University are 20% lower than costs at Catawba College ($9,650 vs. $11,576)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College as Southern Wesleyan University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catawba College students is 37.1% larger than aid received Southern Wesleyan University ($26,913 vs. $19,636)

Catawba College vs. SWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Catawba College or SWU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SWU or Catawba College .

  • Accepted freshman SWU students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Catawba College (3.64)
  • Catawba College has a higher acceptance rate (67.1%) than SWU (51.2%)

Catawba College vs. SWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Catawba College or SWU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SWU and Catawba College.

  • The graduation rate at Catawba College is higher than Southern Wesleyan University (54% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Southern Wesleyan University earn on average $2,800 more per year than Catawba College graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $42,000)
  • Catawba College students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than SWU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Catawba College graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than SWU graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More Catawba College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 50%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/