Earlham vs. SU

Deciding between Earlham College and Southwestern University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Earlham College
Southwestern University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Earlham Richmond, IN
  • SU Georgetown, TX
  • Setting
  • Earlham Distant Town
  • SU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Earlham 753
  • SU 1,440
  • Type
  • Earlham Private 4 Year
  • SU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Earlham
  • SU #196
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Earlham Friends
  • SU United Methodist
  • Status
  • Earlham Non-profit
  • SU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Earlham
  • SU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Earlham $53,930
  • SU $53,813
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Earlham $53,930
  • SU $53,813
  • Room & Board
  • Earlham $13,985
  • SU $15,072
  • Average Net Price
  • Earlham $27,107
  • SU $32,228
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Earlham $40,618
  • SU $35,162
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Earlham 100%
  • SU 99%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Earlham 2,075
  • SU 6,313
  • Admitted
  • Earlham 1,517
  • SU 2,718
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Earlham 73.1%
  • SU 43.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Earlham 13.9%
  • SU 13.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Earlham 1200
  • SU 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • Earlham 28
  • SU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Earlham 3.67
  • SU 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Earlham A-
  • SU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Earlham Difficult
  • SU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Earlham Low
  • SU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Earlham 24/33
  • SU 26/30
  • SAT Range
  • Earlham 1110/1290
  • SU 1130/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Earlham Test optional
  • SU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Earlham Mar 1, 2027
  • SU Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Earlham 7:1
  • SU 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Earlham
    • General Studies (18%)
    • Biology (17%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • SU
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Earlham 66%
  • SU 73%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Earlham $39,100
  • SU $57,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Earlham 75%
  • SU 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Earlham $26,000
  • SU $26,893
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Earlham $268
  • SU $278
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Earlham 47%
  • SU 45%
  • % Women
  • Earlham 53%
  • SU 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Earlham High
  • SU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Earlham No
  • SU No
  • % White
  • Earlham 51%
  • SU 62%
  • % Asian
  • Earlham 5%
  • SU 4%
  • % Black
  • Earlham 12%
  • SU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Earlham 6%
  • SU 22%
  • % Native American
  • Earlham 1%
  • SU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Earlham 0%
  • SU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Earlham 0%
  • SU 4%
  • % International
  • Earlham 22%
  • SU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Earlham 2%
  • SU 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Earlham 39%
  • SU 89%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Earlham 41%
  • SU 9%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Earlham Yes
  • SU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Earlham No
  • SU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Earlham Yes
  • SU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Earlham No
  • SU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Earlham No
  • SU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Earlham College in Richmond, IN with Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southwestern University is larger than Earlham based on total student enrollment (1,440 students vs. 753 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Earlham College is located in Richmond, IN (Distant Town setting); Southwestern University is in Georgetown, TX (Distant Town setting).
  • Earlham College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Southwestern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Earlham College 7:1; Southwestern University 11:1.

Earlham vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Earlham or SU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Earlham College than SU ($27,107 vs. $32,228).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Earlham College are 7.2% lower than at Southwestern University ($13,985 vs. $15,072).
  • Earlham College is 0.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SU (about $117 more per year; $53,930.00 vs. $53,813.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.2% higher at Earlham than at Southwestern University (about $117 more per year; $53,930.00 vs. $53,813.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Earlham College than at Southwestern University (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Earlham College students is 15.5% larger than aid received by Southwestern University students ($40,618 vs. $35,162).

Earlham vs. SU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Earlham or SU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SU and Earlham.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Southwestern University (1220) is 20 points higher than at Earlham (1200).
  • Incoming Earlham students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 28) as students at SU (28).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Earlham College 1110/1290; Southwestern University 1130/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Earlham College 24/33; Southwestern University 26/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Earlham - Test optional; SU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Earlham Mar 1, 2027; SU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Earlham students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at SU (3.5).
  • Earlham has a higher acceptance rate (73.1%) than SU (43.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Earlham vs. 13.8% at SU.

Earlham vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Earlham and SU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Southwestern University's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Earlham College's (66%).
  • Graduates from Southwestern University earn a median of about $18,300 more per year than Earlham graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,400 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Earlham College graduates have a $893 lower median loan debt than SU graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,893).
  • Among borrowers, Earlham graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SU graduates ($268 vs. $278).
  • More SU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Earlham students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.