Columbus State vs. SWU

Should I go to Columbus State University or Southern Wesleyan University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbus State 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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Columbus State University vs. Southern Wesleyan University comparison
Columbus State University Southern Wesleyan University College 3 College 4
Columbus State University
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Overview

Columbus State SWU
Location Columbus, GA Central, SC
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 7,479 1,175
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #995 #826
Religious Affiliation - Wesleyan - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbusstate.edu edu.
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbus State SWU
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $26,520
Tuition (Out of State) $15,425 $26,520
Room & Board $12,080 $9,650
Avg Net Price $12,902 $17,639
Avg Grant Aid $9,147 $19,636
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

Columbus State SWU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,870 846
Admitted 3,398 433
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 51.2%
Enrolled % 30.4% 34.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.07 4.0
Typical High School Grades B A/A+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/23 19/23
SAT Range 900/1130 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 Jun 30, 2025

Academics

Columbus State SWU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (24%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (4%)
  • Business (66%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (3%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • Psychology (3%)

Outcomes

Columbus State SWU
Graduation Rate 31% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,400 $44,800
Making Student Loan Payments 37% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $279

Diversity

Columbus State SWU
% Men 40% 33%
% Women 60% 67%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 51% 63%
% Black 37% 28%
% Hispanic 6% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Columbus State SWU
% In-State 92% 58%
% Out-of-State 5% 42%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbus State University is larger than than SWU based on total student enrollment (7,479 students vs. 1,175 students)

Columbus State vs. SWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbus State or SWU?

  • Southern Wesleyan University is 506.7% more expensive to attend than Columbus State for in-state tuition ($26,520.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 71.9% higher at SWU than Columbus State University ($26,520.00 vs. $15,425.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbus State University than SWU ($12,902 vs. $17,639)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Wesleyan University are 25.2% lower than costs at Columbus State University ($9,650 vs. $12,080)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Wesleyan University than Columbus State University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students is 114.7% larger than aid received Columbus State University ($19,636 vs. $9,147)

Columbus State vs. SWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman SWU students have a 0.93 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Columbus State (3.07)
  • Columbus State has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than SWU (51.2%)

Columbus State vs. SWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbus State 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 Columbus State.

  • The graduation rate at SWU is higher than Columbus State University (42% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Southern Wesleyan University earn on average $7,400 more per year than Columbus State graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $37,400)
  • Columbus State University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than SWU graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Columbus State graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than SWU graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More SWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbus State students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 37%)

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